My friend invited us to the new condo unit of her son and we arranged for a pool party.  She texted us and posted private message that we need to wear suitable swimwear as per management’s regulation with regard to the use of their pool.   Now, I am having a dilemma on what to wear.  As far as I can remember, never did I wear bikini or bathing suit on outings on the beach or pool.  The conservative Filipino like me, a spandex cycling shorts and a tank top complete our swimming get up.   But yes, sometimes, you have to keep up with modern times.  My body type probably will best fit into a one piece with a balloon like skirt in nylon or spandex material to hide the tummy and the flaws.  Or if I will not swim, either I will be covering myself in a sarong; a tube length of fabric used as skirt or cover up for ladies.  That way, I can still be fashionable!

Good luck to me on next week’s swimming party.  If  finally I will decide to swim, then I need  to shop now for an appropriate  bathing suit and a sarong to match!

During my younger years, mere mention of massage parlor gives a bad connotation but nowadays if you say massage or spa experience it will boost your image.  This spa thing may be a little expensive depends on the services they are offering.  You can choose from a selection of types of relaxing body massage   My husband and I already got hooked to having massage therapy whenever we can.   We believe that it relaxes and ease our tension away and make us feel better after a session.  We tried it in Hong Kong during our holiday visit and we availed of the promo services we chanced upon on our way to the hotel.   We were expecting their massage techniques are different from what we got used to in Manila and really it was something extra-ordinary or maybe it’s the Chinese way.  They are using their elbows to put pressure on my  muscles and for me, the more I can’t relax and my muscles seemed to tighten more because I am anticipating the pain everytime the elbow  is used.  The movement was so intense that I felt uncomfortable and caused soreness that last a couple of day.I think I did not get the desired relaxation and pain relief that I was hoping when I tried that massage and I told my husband that I will not try it the next time around.   What an experience!

For now, I will just stick to my favorite massage clinic in our town where I am already a regular customer – with free tea after each session, reasonably priced and discount coupon so you will come back for another session.  However,  I will also definitely try other massage clinics  based on other people’s recommendations.  We need pampering once in a while…

I just got home from an out of town bonding time with my High School friends whom I haven’t seen after our graduation- it was 34 years ago.  Whoooo! I am already giving away my exact age!  Nope,  it’s not melodramatic meeting since we have  been alienated from each other for such a long time.  It’s now  more of a name recall since  we all aged differently and of course, the features are somehow different from before.  But then again, the get together was a happy one, reminiscing our High School days;  our crushes, dear teachers, classmates; activities and even the silly things we did as students.   It was really a day of laughter, teasing and revelations.

We all parted filled with memories and pictures to post in Facebook.  It was a tiring day – long walks, visiting spots left and right but tummy filled with frequent snacking and a heavy lunch.   We vowed to meet again sometime soon or even regularly!   Afterall, we should do it while we can still can.   That’s for sure!

Planning another bonding activity?  Why not!   We are only a text away !

For those who are green-thumbed, gardening is just an easy feat!  I envy them – who can take care of plants effortlessly. They can breathe life into their plants and you can not help but  marvel how healthy and blooming their flowers are.  Unlike me , in day or two, my plants will either get wilted or die at once.  So the best choice is to buy  synthetic ones and you will be sure that it will last for years.

On our visit to Tagaytay,  I was specially struck with their lush greeneries and beautiful flowering plants.  A very good sight to see- green and colorful flowers that will warm your heart and somehow you will feel romantic.  Besides Tagaytay, Baguio City is also the place where most local flowers and vegetables are coming from.  The soils are fertile so harvest is bountiful.

The air too is clean and cool.  A fitting place  to relax and unwind!  Leave all your worries away in Manila and indulge in a relaxing day in Tagaytay, almost 2 hours drive from the city of Manila.  But don’t forget your wallet dearie, if you want to have fun and the best relaxation ever…

After relaxing.. you will be back to the city to work again and earn and relax again… it’s a cycle!

Yesterday, we spent a whole day in Tagaytay with my High School batchmates. I was very fascinated with  fruits that  are in abundance in that hilly city.  The air is fresh and cool and the soil is rich so produce is bountiful.  They are prominently displayed just along side the road sold in little huts where travellers can just park their vehicles in front.  Believe me, they are doing brisk business over there because the fruits are really so tempting and inviting.  How can you not resist buying the pineapples after you had tasted their free sample?   Instead of buying only few pieces, you will be going home with dozen s of them or a trunk full of not only pineapples but bananas called  senyoritas, avocados, jackfruits, mangoesor mangosteens.

You will never go wrong!  Fruits are best for us!

.

Condominiums are sprouting like mushrooms everywhere.  Construction is left and right especially within the vicinities of big universities, colleges, business and office districts.  This is another best choice for those who wanted to have a unit of their own.  Although this is a high end alternative but if you really desires to have a state of the art, class A type of living- then go for it!   Besides you will just shell out your first 20% downpayment. Not only that,  make sure you have a steady income to support the monthly rental.

It took me days before I finally settled to get a condo dorm we found at the back of Mapua.  I believe,I have visited most of the dormitories within the vicinity and most did not pass my standard.  First and foremost, safety and security!  There are dorms that looked okey but  lack fire exit.  I don’t want to compromise the safety of my children to a fire trap like that.    There are some which are new but housed the no. 1 distraction of students – the pool or billiard hall and the computer gaming shop.   There are dormitories that still operates despite their poor, shabby conditions.  I wonder if they can still withstand another Ondoy storm.  They are already rotten old but wise  landlords still open them for rent.

I wanted my children to live comfortably so we decided to get a condo dorm (as they call it), it is a 4 story building quite new, clean and maintained.  We just furnished it according to our taste.  Although, the rent is a bit higher but I think this is much better.