You Don't Know Jack

Just Jack that is. As a final salvo to Summer 2007 (too late now, I know), I chanced upon a really cool video late at night on MTV. It was Glory Days by Just Jack. It was so catchy that I literally went on a witch hunt for his latest album, Overtones.

The comparisons to Mike Skinner/The Streets are unavoidable - with easy beats, almost spoken word delivery, and a quick wit that matches it, I'm afraid the similarities end there. The cockney accent, acerbic commentaries, and rants on louts and geezers are definitely Mike's specialty. Jack on the other hand, focuses on lighter things, like having a good day, telling stories and disco people.
While you're thinking that he's just humdrumming daily news, he also provides inside perspective to celebrities and the pop music factory, to the ups and downs of relationships.

I was pondering on a weasely solution to a major boo-boo I did at work; my epiphany came when I was listening to the final song of the album, excluding the hidden track (which sounds more like LCD Soundsystem). The song was Spectacular Failures; yeah, the irony almost killed me.

Anywaaaay, so far it's this year's best "new" music discovery.

2007 Roland Garros Quarterfinals

Justine vs Serena
Watch the drama unfold here! The winner here should be apt to take home the crown. Henin is definitely the favorite, yet no one should strike out Serena anywhere. Though Serena leads the H2H 6-3, Justine leads on clay, 3-1. Hope the crowd in Paris (and here as well) gets a treat, a thrilling 3 setter again, with drama, scandal, and hopefully, a pending three-peat for the queen of clay.

Jelena vs Nicole
Though Nicole has figured more here on clay as a semifinalist last year, and Melbourne earlier this 2007, I still would tip Jelena, the hardest working player on the WTA the advantage. Great spring results, and a steadier nerve would push the Serbian through in straight sets.

Ana vs Svetlana
Now this matchup would be my favorite of them all. It may not have the pedigree of previous champions, nor the nubility of the matchup above, but this is one square duel, with the Serb leading 2-1, the tiebreaker won last month in Berlin. I would cheer for Ana, it's about time that she figured in the important events. Three long sets.

Anna vs Maria
I'm honestly surprised how a limping Sharapova squeaked past a crafty Schnyder in the previous round - like I said, it hurts more to lose with tight score. Maria defeated Ana here in RG two years ago, but this seems like the opportune time for Anna to skip past Maria and make a SF debut. Straight sets for Anna.

Final
I'm really torn on who to pick for the final, but let's cross fingers - Justine claiming three straight trophies in Paris, with Ana (single N) having wisp of glory as runner-up.




-----------------------------------
Federer vs Robredo
All this should only be an exercise. Federer, all the way to the finals! Sure hope that Robredo gives him a good workout in three sets in preparation.

Davydenko vs Cañas
The hardworking Russian is looking for another SF appearance, and I'm crossing all fingers that Canas be avoided by Federer. Hahaha. Four arduous sets.

Djokovic vs Andreev
I hope that Federer's only heir apparent does not retire in the QF like he did last year. Also, it's nice to see Andreev go deep in the draw, and he could probably take a set off Novak.

Moya vs Nadal
Come on, no way veteran Moya can outrun and outhit the defending champion.

Final
Watch history happen right here. 11th time lucky for Federer, as he finally completes his collection of trophies, and be the first man since a long long time ago to hold all Grand Slams at one time.

Crash Memories

I initially planned to put a different entry on my blog, but something happened on the way home this afternoon. Northbound on Commonwealth, I saw a green Lancer (XFW 213) near Philcoa. The plate number seemed familiar.

Two years ago in January, as I was heading home from Starbucks Libis via Katipunan, a car swerved into the car I was driving, deliberately. The hit was on the rear passenger side, and due to the sudden impact, this caused my vehicle to cross the divider island, mowing down the trees. The result was 2 flat tires, a damaged rear, and a smashed front. Fortunately, I was able to steer myself from oncoming traffic, and not one of the other 3 passengers were hurt. The car that hit us? It stopped some 50 meters away, and after some 2 minutes, drove away.

I took note of the plate number for proper reporting to the authorities - yup that green Lancer was the one.

Elizabeth (1998)

It's been almost a decade, and it was only just last Thursday I saw (and eventually bought) Elizabeth on DVD starring Cate Blanchett. Not that I haven't seen the movie yet; I saw it twice in the cinemas, one as an English requirement, and another time because I found the movie absolutely compelling.

My beloved Cate Blanchett here was fascinating - emanating not only glory, power and inner strength, but also wit, charm and well placed femininity. I will forever curse Gwyneth Paltrow for denying her an Oscar win. I was plenty surprised that this was an all star cast - apart from the keynote actors, there was Vincent Cassel, Fanny Ardant, Kelly MacDonald, Lily Allen, and even Daniel Craig.

Declared illegitimate aged 3. Tried for treason aged 21. Crowned Queen aged 25. Can't wait for the sequel, The Golden Age.

Roland Garros 2007

Women's Singles
Defending Champion: Justine Henin

First Quarter
All eyes will be on Justine and Serena, as they share four trophies over the past five years; throw in a good scandal the last time they played here, and you've got a mouth-watering drama ready to unfold in Paris. That, aside from them displaying fantastic form this year. I honestly don't see much resistance for either of them not to make it to the second week.

QF Match: Justine vs Serena

Second Quarter
Last year, Jelena Jankovic was a no-namer; this year, she's seeded fourth, with already three titles for 2007. A looming rematch with Venus Williams is in the works, with Venus aiming a revenge for the tight one they played in Charleston. Still, the Serbian is tipped to hang tough and make it to the quarters.

Elena Dementieva is in the mix too, but since she reached the finals of Istanbul, she'd probably wilt against last year's quarterfinalist Anna Lena Groenefeld in the second round. Either way, winning three weeks in a row exhaust the 2004 finalist.

A tussle between last year's claycourt princess (until she crashed out of RG in the opening round) Nadia Petrova and semifinalist Nicole Vaidisova will determine one position in the final 8 of the draw. I'd pick the steadier Russian, unless she chokes though.

QF Match: Jelena vs Nadia

Third Quarter
This section welcomes back the 2004 champion Anastasia Myskina - tough draw though, as she meets compatriot Svetlana in 2R. Kuzzie has reached 3 finals already, and has a clear claycourt pedigree, so expect her to go deep in the draw, all the way to the finals even.

Winner in Berlin, Ana Ivanovic has been gifted a pretty good draw, as she can power past all her opponents, until getting to the 4R, where she's expected to face Daniela. This one could go either way, but Ana's results on clay have been much more stellar than the Slovak.

QF Match: Ana vs Svetlana

Fourth Quarter
It's actually ironic to see that the highest seeds in this draw might not live up to their seedings; Maria (seeded 2nd) and Amelie (seeded 5th) aren't known to play big matches on the clay. Maria faces a dangerous Emelie Loit in the opening round, and this smells like an upset. Should she get past that, a crafty Patty awaits her in 4R.

It's already hard for the French to count on Amelie to win her home Slam, still, the draw has not been kind to her. She'll meet Lucie, who knocked her out of Melbourne earlier this year, and upstart Anna Chakvetadze in the succeeding round. Cross fingers, experience will put her through, at least until the quarters.

QF Match: Amelie vs Patty


----------------------------------------

Men's Singles
Defending Champion: Rafael Nadal

First Quarter
There is just one question on everybody's mind: Can Federer finally triumph in Paris, and claim the title Greatest of All Time? Prior to his Hamburg victory, this bid has already been written off, labelling his string of losses as a slump. But after dismantling Nadal's 3-year clay streak, the answer is yes. All he needs is pretty good warmup from quality players, and he'll be well on his way. A 4th round clash with former champ Ferrero, seasoned claycourter Robredo or maybe Safin should prepare (but not deprive) Roger for his moment in history.

QF Match: Federer vs Robredo

Second Quarter
I'm giving one slot in the QF for the hardworking Davydenko, he'll be facing Nalbandian in the R16, but the Argentinean hasn't been playing well recently, so I'll stick to my pick. I just hope he's not too tired from playing in Austria.

It's been a couple of years already, and I still don't know what to make of Gasquet. Baby Fed, they called him, but that star fizzled out due to (very) inconsistent results. He's going to face Federer's recent nemesis, Canas in R32 and Gonzalez in R16, and getting past that seems pretty slim.

QF Match: Davydenko vs Gonzalez

Third Quarter
The heir apparent of Federer has finally arrived. With consistent finishes in Indian Wells, Adelaide and Miami, Djokovic has proven that he's a step above his batchmates of young guns on tour. His section is gifted with lots of qualifiers, and his first big challenge will come in 4R against the experienced Ferrer. This is a tricky one to call, as Ferrer has turned in quite consistent results on the red clay.

The bottom half of the draw will be a total surprise, as there is nobody imposing enough to make an impression in Roland Garros. Baghdatis hasn't quite shown how good he is recently, and Andy Roddick has won 4 matches here in the last 6 years (that's a really bad statistic). It's a second round appearance at best. I hope Mathieu goes through the draw, he was the only one to give Nadal a run for his money in last year's tournament.

QF Match: Djokovic vs Mathieu

Fourth Quarter
It was an inspiring run in Hamburg for Moya, let's hope that this has boosted his confidence in being a threat on clay. With no real contenders in his section, he should rise above them and get to the quarters.

Hewitt may have had a good run on clay recently, but he snagged the rough end of the draw, landing in Nadal's R16 lineup. He almost figured out how to play the King Of Clay, but in a 5-setter environment, expect the defending champion to scramble and tug at every point.

QF Match: Moya vs Nadal

Why Am I Not Surprised?

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Science/Math Nerd   (Absolute Insane Laughter as you pour toxic chemicals into a foaming tub of death!) Well, maybe you aren't this extreme, but you're in league with the crazy scientists/mathmeticians of today. Very few people have the talent of math and science is something takes a lot of brains as well. Thank whosever God you worship, or don't worship, so thank no deity whatsoever in your case, for you people! Most of us would have died off without your help.
Literature Nerd
Social Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Drama Nerd
Anime Nerd
Musician
Artistic Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Who would've thought that in my drunken stupor last weekend I would be taking home something that would immediately inspire me. No, not that, you pervert.

I've decided to change jobs, or at least apply for another one; and an overpriced quotable magnet probably must've pushed me to the edge to take a leap.

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did.
So throw off the bowlines, sail away from from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore.
Dream.
Discover.

It sticks quite well in my cubicle wall too.

Sunflower Memories

Every summer, I look forward to passing by University Avenue in Diliman - the entrance to my alma mater, UP. April would be the perfect time when the sunflowers are ripe and in a blossoming flourish. The jolly yellow flowers would signal that another year has come, and graduates must march out of university, and on to the real world. These blooms would remind me of everything that was college: a time to grow up and be an adult, but still revel in your youth; a time to make sense of the things that go around you, but still be irreverent. Whenever I see University Ave aglow with the sunflowers, I can not help but feel awe of the fond, fond memories UP has given me.

Every summer, the portal of sunflowers transport me back in time, when everything was beautiful, and in full bloom.

Peering Down Craters

It took a lot of convincing, all of them internal, to put my heavy ass inside a plane. Don't get me wrong, but I like flying. I like it so much, that well, I have enough material to talk about in this blog about my travels. However, this was no ordinary plane - it was a small plane, so small that it can only seat 3 passengers and the pilot. Remember that old Daffy Duck cartoon that he'd stand on the propeller and yell "Contact!" ? Yeah, that's the one. Out pilot, Jimmy Boyd, consoled us that at least every one sat in first class.



So there I was sitting nervously in a little plane, waiting for our turn to take the runway. The takeoff was relatively smooth, but in a small plane you can feel all the little movements. Whenever the pressure changed due to a rise in altitude, Little Plane That Could jerked a little, causing my stomach to churn, my head to tilt, and my eyes to rapidly search for a parachute (there were none, but there life jackets, how comforting). Boysen, an aerospace engineer, who assured me that it was *probably* safe with a counter-argument "How you know your car is safe?", gets usually airsick. Just puke it out, and you'll be fine, he suggested. Ah, just like getting plastered after having a notorious night of drinking - vomit will set things right.


Back to the flight, we finally reached our desired altitude to properly view the crater of Mount Pinatubo. This sure beats a 2-day trek! From the meandering lahar flows that spark contrast with the lush green foliage of the mountains, to the crater lake that was semi-dark from all the sulfur, it was definitely a sight to behold. There are a lot more pictures, but I'd like to think that I'm considerate for non-DSL connections (us, mainly). I just did not feel awe at the sight, but also sadness; I offered a moment of silence to remember all the people who were displaced, killed, lost, from the events that were borne of the fury of Pinatubo.

There's probably more pictures to upload in my Flickr account.

Planes and the Clark Museum

The modest Clark Museum in Angeles City is a 200 sqm room divided into chambers that relived the American Occupation of the area. I surely didn't know that it was called Fort Stotsenburg in the earlier days (now you do too!), and Clark, was...hmm... that one I forgot already. I'm sure he was famous though.

From the showcase of history in the museum, we raided the Angeles City Proper, or as Boysen would refer to it, Angeleth Thity. Allow me a moment to indulge here: my lisp is not that bad!

As I was saying, Filipino Ingenuity was on full display on the roads, with names that are suggestive, yet still playful littering the road encircling Clark. I'm sure there's a sign for a pub that will tickle your fancy (no pun intended!); my favorites were Thi Hi and T Time. You have to see the posters to have a more, errm, visual appreciation.

Last one before I go to the main event, we stopped by the plane relics in Air Force City. I got a chance to take photos, and this is one of my all time favorites. It's called Homage To Planes, and it's got something to do with my next trip, together with a very popular volcano.

Manila, Way Back When

Showing my CouchSurfing guest Stijn what Manila looks like was as much a pleasure for me since I was fiddling with my brand new camera. After checking out San Agustin Church (there's an article about it below, before Spider-Man 3 made a splash in my blog), we headed for good old Fort Santiago. Silly me, it was just across the street from Manila Cathedral. Anyway, it was probably in Grade 3 when I went here last - it looks fairly familiar, yet enticingly new.

There were 18th century guards, ancient Spanish brick gates, and, (in)appropriately, a well-manicured golf course. Even the caretaker of the 3mx4m artillery room-cum-chapel scratched her head at the thought of the golf course. Well, at least the grass is definitely well taken care of.



If you think the golf course was quite peculiar, then you should try the Rizal Museum. His old cell, all his writings, and photos of the women he loved; nothing was strange here, but the writings were presented in a very modern way. Etched glass, steel bars that draped from ceiling to the floor, and as an ending, the Mi Ultimo Adios written on the floor. Sure, it was a novel way of presenting his works, but for me, it was a little anachronistic. It was modern, too modern even.

The rest of the beauty of Fort Santiago seemed to have eluded me, as I was busy answering phone calls that morning. Drat. But, there was enough time to take a picture of Pasig River, and imagine the glory days of the fortress. Even one of the brazen guards spread across the grounds seemed to think so.

Swim Away! Fanboy In The Midst!

The verdict is out - I like Spiderman 3 more than I enjoyed the last installment. Throw in a perfectly good song by Snow Patrol, and it's set the tone for a wonderful, exciting, summer season at the movies. And by "good", in a Snow Patrol kind of way, I mean "mopey, insightful, with a swelling crescendo". Perfect.

In the confusion and the aftermath,
You are my signal fire,
The only resolution and the only joy,
Is the faint spark of forgiveness in your eyes

This season's really intriguing movies: Ratatouille, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Disturbia, The Simpsons Movie (Go Chief Wiggum!).

Spider-Man 3, Let Me Go Music Geek On You

In summary, I enjoyed the last Spider-Man movie. My gripe is that it was very pop, yet very MTV2 at the same time. Just to be consistent with the music references for this article, it would be best to write my complaints in a list:

1. Gwen Stacy, is well, too Gwen Stefani (No surprises there).
2. Harry Osborn, was less brood-y, more cheer-y. It's like Robbie Williams revering to his boyband roots. Eeek.
3. Peter Parker + alien symbiote = Panic! At The Disco groupie. That I found really strange.
4. I've seen Mary Jane Watson before. They're called divas, and we don't need more of them.
5. The ending was pretty strange; this felt like a contrived encore.
6. And like all other reviews, the movie has got too much going on; it's like watching the Live8 video stream where you get to see all of them perform at the same time.
7. Bryce Dallas Howard, James Cromwell, and Topher Grace were way underused.

However, there were good points as well:


1. Goblin's glider/skateboard and Harry's costume rocked.
2. Topher Grace was still very Topher Grace, even as Venom. Just how cool is that?
3. The tag teams idea was clever, why just now?
4. Less longful looks from Harry and Peter, and vice versa.
5. Less preaching, less self righteousness, more action. Yey!

Too much talking, less watching! Got to run back to the cinemas, lest only 9 of the 10 cinemas carry Spider-Man 3 in Gateway.

Summer Music Mix 2007

I'm lazy, yet I still want to rant. Just picked up a couple of CDs, and seen a movie. Here's an abridged guide:



1. Introducing Joss Stone by Joss Stone - Vinnie Jones, Raphael Saadiq, Common and Lauryn is definitely a good boost for her. There are no standout songs from the album, but the record in general shows off a more upbeat brand of soul this young singer is famous for.



2. A Fever You Can't Sweat Out by Panic! At The Disco - My major hesitation in picking up this album before (aside from long, cumbersome titles) was a uncanny resemblance to Fall Out Boy, which I already had. Surprise, surprise. There's a bit more dancehall rock and programming in the album that what I gave them credit for. I particularly like Camisado, Time To Dance ("when I say Shotgun, you say Wedding!"), and the hits. Special mention to Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes (Sound familiar? This was spoken by Natalie Portman, in Closer), complete with the odd goldfish video.



3. Out Of The Woods by Tracy Thorn - Glad she came out with an album, and fresh new songs, since EBTG came out with Temparamental in 2000. This collection of songs is, in a word, quirky. There are elements of 80s pop, streaks of great programming, and pepperings of folk. It's two steps back from Walking Wounded (less drumbeats, less synthesizing), but two steps forward from Amplified heart (more programming, more electronica). It's strange, and the least I would expect from her, and maybe that's why I loved it. Standouts are Easy, Grand Canyon, Raise The Roof, and By Piccadilly Station I Sat Down And Wept.



4. Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard - Why oh why did I take forever to buy this CD? I knew I loved the title track to bits (best song of 2004), and their contribution to the Spider-Man 2 OST Gifts and Curses was simply phenomenal - so why? Maybe the piyok turned me off. Haha. Great album, and not as noisy as I would've expected. Apart from the title track and Only One, the other good songs are Empty Apartment, Life Of A Salesman (perfect for Father's day, but probably Frank Sinatra or Perry Como would still be a better choice), One Year Six Months and Back Home. Yeah, so I really liked the album.

I did say I saw a movie, and mentioned Spiderman above, but this is getting to be a rather long entry, so I'll wait a couple of hours before I do that one. Drat, and I working up a pretty good segue back there.

Now I'm Starting To Wonder Where My Name Came From

I finally had a Couchsurfer land in my room, and my parents were equally thrilled to accommodate a foreigner. They started with the usual fussy bottled water issue, based on the premise that all foreigners can't handle the local tap; and ended with booting one of my brothers to another room.

Philippine nomenclature, well, at least my parents' style is baffling. At first, my parents thought that he was Dutch, but when I explained that our guest, Stijn, was from Belgium, they went "Aaah..." Boysen. (Both Dutch Boy and Boysen brands of paint - if he's not Dutch Boy, then, he's Boysen, duh).



Anyway, Stijn/Boysen looks like he did enjoy a tour of Manila, as much as I did myself. It was time to road test (so to speak) the spanking brand new Canon 400D I received for my birthday (The only gift I received, taken from my April paycheck, drat).

Its lenses landed first in Intramuros, and towards the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Agustin Church. That's 3, out of 4 WH Churches in the Philippines I've already visited! The ivory display of carved dolls were impressive, as they were creepy. The actual church was definitely more ornate than what I had expected: its internal furnishings were very 16th century church-like, but the intricate pulpits were probably the first ones I have seen. Also of note would be the crypts, the ruins by the garden, and the choir loft in the second floor.



After the churches, and trying (unsuccessfully) to covertly take pictures of guards garbed up in Katipunero costumes, Fort Santiago was the easiest place to take out in the the itinerary. There was a lady manning the artillery warehouse-turned-chapel; she griped about the strange 18-hole golf course embracing the Spanish enclaves (yes, that is pretty strange).

Unintentionally, San Agustin was the namesake of my guest, and how interesting that that was the highlight of our morning. Good thing Saint Augustine didn't have parents like mine did, otherwise, it would be a pretty odd sounding name for a church..

Told Ya, I'm Just Big Boned

Here's a fact that a lot of you might not believe: I am only 2% over fat.

I recently signed up for a weight management program - to have a scientific and empirical measurement of "looking better" weight-wise, they decided to get some metrics involved. Height, weight (or for purists, mass), body mass index (BMI), and percentage body fat. Height is 172cm, and weight is 6lbs less from my last inaccurate weighing - which really doesn't give YOU guys anything, hehehe.

What was interesting was how they calculated your body fat; and the results surprised me too. To calculate body fat, the nurse handed me a thingamajig with handlebars, and you're supposed to hold it the same way a newbie driver is meant to hug the steering wheel (but not as tight though). The results: I'm just 2% above the expected body fat ratio. There finally is proof that I'm really big boned; but don't ask me about that BMI.

You Can Greet Me Here!

I know, I know, it's been way too busy at work, so I really wasn't able to punch in a lot of entries recently. However, there is just enough time to squeeze in the fact that my first couple days in my late 20s (gasp, gurgle, zonk!) is overrated.

So here's my virtual libre - have a virtual beer, or if you're virtually driving, an iced tea (enjoy the refills, they're bottomless!). Do take some of the bar nuts (no, they're not a euphemism for my friends...) on your way out.

ps. I promise not to take a leave this summer and spend it at home - the weather is just scorching and humid.

Epiphanies on an Easter Afternoon

I woke up late on Easter Day, and peered outside our house. These yellow florets were, to borrow for e.e. cummings, carefully, everywhere, descending. After celebrating restless idling, it was a refreshing sight to see yellow rain.

Right then and there, I had two epiphanies. First, I love our home - ours is the green gate. And before I go all 7th Heaven on all of you (which I won't, you probably saw the marathon), it's a central area, near the necessary facilities, yet still tucked away from the bustle of it all. And to see kids play at our streets in the summer, while yellow blossoms dance around is indeed a bonus.



Second, I will buy a DSLR camera. I've been fiddling with the idea of getting one, with the pros (better images, unleashing the internal photographer in me), and cons (expensive, might not have enough time to tinker with it) - the image outside our house convinced me. I just realised that one of the most important thing I own would be my memories. To capture your memories would be to hold time in your hands - and for just for that second, everything is all and well.

*plays Yellow by Coldplay*

Old Music, New Hunt

I had intended to do this entry together with the newest hotshots on the tennis blog, but my laptop crashed, and lost all the album covers. Excuses aside, here it is, and I found an old gem sitting ob the shelves in Kuala Lumpur. And no, the title has nothing to do with a wedding (how does that saying go, anyway?) - but I tried the youngest people making a scene, and ended up with kids under their twenties. Boohoo, that makes me sound ancient.

I picked up Underage Thinking by Teddy Geiger, Beautiful Awakening by Stacie Orrico, and These Streets by Paolo Nutini. AT first I thought the Geiger record was brilliant, but then again, the adolescence is fairly obvious. Still, the album is still a credible effort, nothing to throw away, but it's a step above mediocre still.

What I found most enticing with the new Stacie Orrico album, was the simplicity of the melodies and the beats. The lyrics are only so-so, but the clarity of the message is there. I think I've overplayed the lead song, I'm Not Missing You so much that it's become rather anthemic (to which I now realise that it's become the opposite). I will not go into a long litany of personal issues here, lest I make penance for myself a wee bit early.

Most promising is These Streets - try to think of it as a Gavin DeGraw-esque compilation, minus the falsetto and oh-so-righteous edicts. Of course, Last Request stands out as the catchiest song in the albu, though I had initially heard a more tender version. It's a little to fast for a breakup-sex song. Hey, how many breakup songs have you heard anyway? Not to be disappointed, there are two bonus tracks on the end of the album, including an acoustic, more Scot version of Last Request - "Sloo doon, lie doon" he sings. I'm sure Grounddskeeper Willie would be so proud.


And for something old, I finally found Better Than Ezra's debut album, Deluxe. Woohoo! It's a definite throwback to the wonderful era of mid-90s alternative rock, where grunge as has just tempered, and glam was a definite no-no. Good is a certified Hall Of Fame song, and such classics as In The Blood, Rosealia and Porcelain make the album a must-buy. My favorite would be the nostalgic Time Of Year. You can feel it in the air, feel right this time of year. I'm hoping to find the rest of their albums, Friction, Baby and Before The Robots - but that's going to be a stretch, but we'll see. Apparently, I'm on the hunt once more.

CouchSurfing In Manila

While I've already mentioned pieces of my Couchsurfing experiences, I've never really expounded on what it was. It's an internet-based volunteer program that offers couches all over the world as accommodation. If you're ever travelling anywhere across the globe and you'd want to skip the whole tourist trap parade (complete with flags, lisping tour guides, and sticker IDs the size of China), then I'd surely recommend this one. You'd have to be a member of course, and but worry not, it's definitely free.

I've had successful surfings in Southeast Asia, and already pseudo-hosted in Manila. It's definitely a great experience, as you share stories of how different cultures vary around the world. A few days back, Phil, a nomadic ambassador dropped over and was warmly welcomed by Team CouchSurfing Manila. I'll just post a few pictures (click on My Flickr Gallery), and fast forward to the message, lest I risk being Society page fodder.

There was a book that was recently published about the 12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country - and while some of them are extremely difficult (like respecting your politicians/public servants) or heartbreaking (paying your taxes), most are just downright simple (follow traffic rules, do not litter, vote). How does CouchSurfing come into the picture? Item #4 - Talk positively about our race and our country. Filipino hospitality is something we pride ourselves excessively with, and what a greater venue to showcase this when we host travellers from around the world.


Yes, the main what's-in-it-for-me is not shelling out precious euros while backpacking Spain, Italy and Germany, but while you're enjoying the chat and scenery, do share great things about country. Amid the airport paranoia, liquid ban in planes, a stranger is about to welcome you into their homes - it is time to channel the inner ironist in you, that despite rabid politicking and hellish traffic jams in our country, there is still a lot of things beautiful in our 7,107 islands.

Drat! My PC broke down again

*looks at title above*

Duh, second time in a month and a half.

New Guns On Tour

Flashback first: it's Y2K and I'm flipping between the New Balls Please campaign, and seeing the Backstreet Boys on MTV. Seven years later, Britney Spears is expecting a third child, Lleyton Hewitt is already a has-been, and Jennifer Capriati is retired again.

As I go through the latest issue of TENNIS magazine, there is a streak of young athletes making waves on the ATP and WTA. Gasquet, Berdych, Monfils, Murray, Almagro, Ivanovic, Chakvetadze, Jankovic, Vaidisova and Baghdatis.

None of them have won a Grand Slam, but I see several Tier I/Master Series winners. Aside from playing the First To Win A Slam Derby, I would have to choose my favorites as well.

Clearly head and shoulders above my men's pick is Andy Murray. Greatest asset? That change of pace. I'm terribly impressed at the way he plays the point by mixing a slow ball, then firing forehands. Killer shot? Crosscourt double-handed backhand, not as brute as Nadal's, but the way it veers away from the opponent is a feat.



The women's side is definitely a harder choice - Miss Consistent would be Ana Ivanovic, Best Performance in a Grand Slam goes to Nicole Vaidisova, Toughest Girl On The Block would be Jelena Jankovic and Miss Quiet Performer would be Anna Chakvetadze. Still, I'm rooting for Anna, version 3.

Blog Awards

In light of my recent woe in the article below, to which our ever-reliable IT Helpdesk was able to restore my Nov 2006 files, not my March 2007 files (rendering it all useless), I still have good news to share.

Quelle bon surprise! My blog is nominated for the Philippine Blog Awards in not one, but two categories (Travel and Personal). Thanks to those who nominated my site, I'm not even aware that there was an nomination season.

Given this wonderful news, I promise to do the following:

1. I promise to write more in the blog, and be more conscious of the typographical errors. Watch me hack away at night, in complete graphomaniac mode.
2. I promise to post better pictures. (Which is a fancy way of saying that I shall reward myself with a really nice camera next month.)
3. I promise not to do a Sally Field should I win an award. However, if the presentor is totally hot, I promise to do an Adrien Brody.
4. I promise to treat those who nominated me for a drink. Haha.
5. I promise to have my travelogues share really useful tips. However, I cannot promise to not colorfully describe (ie. mock) the tourists I meet.

Edited to add: If you want to go to the event, just drop by here: Philippine Blog Awards: How to get your tickets

-------------------

There. Just an update, I finally saw a movie at the cinemas, - first since well, I got single again. To repeat an earlier statement, not just 1, but 2 movies, even!

Frank Miller got it perfectly right in 300, a dazzling mix of art direction, and story telling. I always loved stylized violence, but throw in a lot of story, it distracts you from the texture of the film (Can you hear me Sin City?). Not enough story and you get all dressed up paper dolls in a diorama (Sky Captain and World of Tomorrow). In 300, they stuck to their guns, or should I say spears and swords. It was the Battle of a Place I can't spell, and kept the momentum going. Well done right there.

The other movie I saw was Notes On A Scandal. Cate Blanchett, have an affair with me!

Seriously speaking, the movie was tight, and utterly delectable. Now, I have the confidence of taking the TOEFL - it felt like an English class right there. Crush ko din kasi si Judi Dench. Hehe.

My PC is broken!

My 2-month old laptop just crashed Thursday - I hope nothing fatal happened. So I'm remotely blogging here.

Just to remember what I'm supposed to be writing about, it's Heart 1035, and this weekend's CouchSurfing community.

Nibbling Around Chinese New Year

It was my first time to take a guided tour around Old Manila, and what a better way to spend it by taking a walking/eating tour around Binondo. How timely, it was Chinese New Year!


It's been featured at Lonely Planet, and several friends have already recommended taking Old Manila Walks - a delightful, quirky spin on a vibrant, often overlooked cultural hub of our sprawling metropolis.

When they said it's a walking tour, they really mean it - four hours of continuous walking; I did say it was an eating tour as well, and I was definitely filled to the brim by day's end (Will detail the dishes later).

You start at the Plaza (great, I already forgot the name) fronting Binondo Church, where our tour guide Ivan The Man quickly runs down the Chinese history in the Philippines. Interesting question: What is a Spanish basilica doing in the heart of the Chinese district? Closely look at the bell tower - is it similar to the bell tower in Paoay (featured in an earlier article), or does it more resemblance to the Thien Mu Pagoda picture I took in Hue?





Ding! Epiphany moment!

What I particularly loved with the tour was that it was very comprehensive in many ways - it had dishes from the North, Uighur, Sichuan, Fujian, and obviously, Cantonese. There were dumplings, noodles, siopao, fish soup, and the ubiquitous lumpia. From the new holes-in-the-wall to the veritable institutions, there was definitely something for everyone. This is definitely for the foodie that's already tired of the regular lemon chicken and sweet and sour pork.



There were about 10 stops, and 8 of those were eat-ins. Sadly, none of those were for dessert - somebody really has to explain to me the concept of hot desserts. In the manner champorado is not dessert, bubur chacha, peanut soup, ginataan and related dishes are not desserts. Sorry, but I digress.

Anyway, I fully encourage you to take this tour, or at least visit the website, and see a delicious side of Manila. I'm already contemplating on having a date at the Chinese cemeteries.

I Can't Blog!

Just a quick snip: I cant seem to blog because I'm too busy at work. It's been so crazy here, I haven't been sleeping well even!

I normally write my blogs offline at home, but It's been a pressure cooker environment recently. Just so I don't forget what I'm supposed to write about, here they are: Scotland, The New Breed of Music and Tennis, and apparently, having a bad week at work.

That Zoo of a Menu

Another 24-hour bus ride! And I finally arrive in Saigon to the house of my CouchSurfing hosts, Vicarious Voyage Andrew, John and Batista the Monkey. Their neighbors Arthur, Natalie and Elke were also around.

Those guys are most definitely nice, and overly generous. The first thing the asked me, apart from "Hey, are you Ronnie?" was "Do you want to eat a horse tonight?"



So we headed to the famed bia hoi via cyclo om (When in Vietnam, do as the Viet do). The menu was fascinating, it had porcupine, dear (note the spelling), rabbit, doves and frogs. However, the clincher was they had weasel on their menu (with citronella!) Ah, my Dilbert instincts were jumping for joy at the thought of skewering weasels.

The following day was no less of a test for my stomach as we had snake. Eww. Snakes definitely rank high (if not the highest) in my Eew list, and eating them definitely sent it off the charts. The skin was gummy (ugh), but the meat was fishy - a muscular one.



That was good, my favorite was the porcupine, while the least ones were the horse, it had a strange racetrack-aftertaste, and the snake. At least there was something that threw me off the safe path for this trip.

A Cast Of Characters in Vietnam

So my travel narrative does not seem to be running a correct timeline. What I'm going to do, is narrate it by the people I met.

While I was busy pigging out in Hoi An, I met the other tourists I saw from previous points in Vietnam. I bumped into Team Korea, who were frantically waving at me from the riverside. I am now snapping my fingers why I didn't have a picture taken with them complete with flashing of the "V" sign. Tsk.

There was Miss India, who was from the Netherlands who absolutely love the Mekong cruise and Luang Prabang. She was so tired from the vacation, that she was looking for a vacation from the vacation.

Then there was the Russian couple, the girl looked like that crybaby Starr from Project Runway, and the guy looked like a thinner Mr. Bean. Go figure.



There was the newlyweds, a photographer from LA. He took that picture of me by a gate in Hue. There's a tip right there - alone? Looking for someone in the crowd to take your picture? Always pick the one with the fanciest camera, chances are, he's a professional, and it's almost always you'll get a nice picture. For free! By the way, his wife, Ms. Mexico, was hot.



I was trying to get a picture of this girl who looked like Maria Kirilenko (damn!), but everytime I get a good angle, his big menacing boyfriend would pop in, with a glower in his face (yaiks!). I did have some stolen shots of her though, hehehe.

The bus from Hoi An to Nha Trang was an overnight one, and when we got off to switch buses in Nha Trang I had a chat with Mr. Germany, whose only knowledge of Filipinos were of religious maids (Watch them gather by the church every Sunday!) and delicious lumpiang Shanghai.

By the we were supposed to board the bus to Saigon, I met Roxette from Hanoi, and another Swedish couple. Four Swedes and what do you get? Right, Abba! And for the next 2 hours, that's what was playing, inside the bus. Mama Mia! Dancing Queen! Chiquitita! Super Trooper! Fernando!

Ooh, it's actually funny that I know that many Abba Songs. Thank you for the music, but no thanks - as I plugged my earphones on.

Food Tripping in Hoi An

Yes, based on the previous entry, you should not skip Hue should you ever visit Vietnam. It was a wonderful surprise - but I have to keep trodding on.

My next stop was Hoi An, in South-Central Vietnam. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, basically due to the yellowed buildings and common architecture in the area.

At this point, I think I've had my share of Chinese temples, antique houses, and sweaty tourists. So, I went on a food trip. Hoi An has a lot of little cafes, but the most popular one would be Cargo Club. There was not a single Starbucks that I have seen (Highlands Coffee was the nearest approximation, where I had, duh, an Italian soda. Yummy though.) through out Vietnam, so I definitely had to try their local and famous coffee.

There was strawberry tart, pineapple caramel cake, chocolate croissant. I almost never left that blasted cafe. The local coffee was, for lack of a more colorful description. strong. Okay, let's use the power of print on that one - it was STRONG. Their latte tasted like espresso, and I'm starting to think that their version of espresso would be chewing the actual beans.


I was never a fan of Vietnamese cuisine - I thought that the food was sweet without reason, it had nothing but noodles (badly made ones at that), and there were too many unnecessary greens in the soup. Okay, I take all of that back. Their pho was fantastic - I loved the idea that the rice noodles were a little gummy, a good departure from the usual ramen, and the lemongrass gave the soup the appropriate sweetness.

If I was to recommend one dish from there, I would recommend the white rose. *looks up the food guide to find the local name* Aaah, Banh bao. It's like ravioli, but it's pork wrapped in rice dough, splashed with a lemongrass-citrus dressing, then topped crispy shrimp slivers. Mmmm.

So there, try Vietnamese food, give it a chance, I didn't, and now I regret it. Like one menu claimed, it's not as spicy as Thai, not as greasy as Chinese!

Well, Rough Guides Hasn't Failed Me Yet

Just as I was about to drop my 15,000 dong in the beer bucket, my cyclo arrived at my hostel to pick me up and bring me to the bus station for my overnight bus ride. I meet a pair of Swedish girls (whom I will now call Roxette), and a pair of French grannies, now known as well, the French Teabags.

The French Teabags are on their way to Ninh Binh, just 2 hours south of Hanoi, to experience nature, rice paddies and mountain trekking. No thank you, we got lots of that where I come from. Roxette, on the other hand had the same destination as I did, Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam.

The bus ride is uneventful, until the bus driver decides to mock the passengers dying to get a piss. He pulls over to a petrol station and as soon as the passengers rise from their seats to deboard the bus, he steps on the gas and the bus careens off, throwing the now-standing and the almost-standing passengers hurling backwards. He did this about four times, and all we can do is scratch our heads. Okay, I was laughing like a hyena, hehehe, and they couldn't see me because it was dark.

Save for a brief chat with Miss Israel (first time to see a traveler from the Philippines, got scared in Cambodia, and returning from Laos), I spent most of the time sleeping.



Wasting no time, I check in a guest house, take a bath, change clothes, and book a tour to see the tombs. Rough Guides hasn't failed me yet - my hotel in Hanoi was 7USD and had free internet, breakfast and hot showers. My hotel in Hue had the same amenities, but had a bathtub! Sweet!

The food selection is amazing too, as I ate over at Cafe on Thu Wheels, and the selection was reasonably priced. You even get to choose which CD to play from her selection.

Take the recommended sites/hotels/eateries from Rough Guides, I think they make a great fit for solo travellers and backpackers.