Hello there, blogspot. I miss you. I just have to get through this frustrating frustrating frustrating week, and I'll get back to you soon.

Thanks to Baby Prince, photo apps (as well as my "fans" in instagram) and less commuting time for keeping me sane.

Accidental Alone Time in the City of Angels

A retro-post of my Los Angeles trip in September 2011 :)

I am really trying to keep up! And as I go along, I will try to squeeze in some travel tips. Yeheees bumablogger! Hahaha. ;p

This side trip was originally my friend's idea but I ended up going there alone, thus the title. My camera, tripod and remote didn't fail me. ;)

I have a golden rule for future solo travels --- I may eat in a fancy restaurant or or go clubbing alone, but I will never go around a theme park by myself. It's pathetic. ;p For the record, I just had lunch at City Walk and didn't go inside the Universal Studios. ;)

 

And because I was not that prepared for the challenge and I've heard from a lot of people that LA is not a commuter-friendly city, I booked a Hop on Hop off bus to go around ($35 for 24-hour ride + free Chinese Theater Tour). But given a chance to go there again, I'd explore it by metro train and by foot. It's doable naman for the love of travel and decent pictures! I was actually convinced by an article I read from a travel blog that availing a HoHo bus is the worst touristy thing you could ever do. ;) Hindi siya sulit:

1. Very pricey compared to commuting
2. You'd get too comfortable sitting, you wouldn't want to Hop off, have photo-ops, and wait for more than 30 minutes for the next bus to arrive. Exactly what I did. ;p
3. Crappy photos of the attractions
4. Street signs and traffic lights might chop off your head. SERIOUSLY.

But if you have very limited time to explore and research, ok na rin. Just try to listen to stories of the tour guide/driver to compensate for the disadvantages. ;)

Very Hollywood Movies!!! :)

I saw THE SIGN. Starstruck moment.

The attractions of the first route. Thanks to fast shutter speed. I had to do a lot of cropping and rotating because the original shots were either tabingi or badly framed. ;p

 Walk of Fame! :)

Pretty 'no? ;) My favorite time of the day to shoot! :)

Holiday Inn Universal aka Beverly Garland for $59! Thanks to employee rate. :) It really felt like home here because ang daming Pinoy staff sa hotel. From the receptionist to the driver. They made me feel welcome and hatid sundo ako ng shuttle sa pinakamalapit na metro station! I love the Pinoys abroad. :)

swim time

I started the tour at 7 AM the next day and took the Downtown route of the HoHo bus. It was friggin' cold!

I wish I had pictures here.

Freeway. Scary!

after availing the free chinese theater tour which was pretty boring, ;p

pinagtitinginan na ako ng mga tao dito. ;)

frustrating frustrating photo with the view of Hollywood sign

off to San Diego via Amtrak

Next Up: San Diego! :)

Like me, Maybe?

The other day, I bombarded Instagram with past travel photos that I took using my phone and since Sunday, I've been singing "Call me, Maybe" as a hangover syndrome from the NKOTBSB concert. So the title is pretty much a combination of what I've been doing lately with my phone. Gets?

Here's a little confession: I crave for "likes" in my facebook and instagram posts, to the point of deleting a post that didn't earn a single like. hahaha. Buti na lang my parents are on facebook! ;) Yes, I'm pampam like that. So, if you're one of my facebook contacts or a random stranger who came across one of my photos and hit like or double tapped, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!You made the KSP and internet savvy in me happy. :) I mean, who doesn't get kilig when they see that little red icon? di ba? ;)

I'm currently in love with Instagram. It doesn't have the best filters for pro-looking photos but it's a haven for celebrity/photography/attention lovers like me! :) It's like twitter where I don't feel guilty of shameless plugging by spamming the feeds of my followers knowing that they subscribed to my posts in their own will. ;) In that rectangular world, I get to follow celebrities that I love, see stunning photos of fellow photography enthusiasts, and get inspired to take and share some more!

46 days ago, I started joining communities by putting hashtags on my posts like #photoaday and #fridaynightfaves and I looooove how my photos get noticed and "liked" by people I don't know. See those blonde girls in the screenshot above? Umaabot na ng ibang bansa ang mga pictures ko! :) What makes me more giddy is when I get kind comments and followed by people who take more spectacular photos than me! In fairness, hindi naman sila nagdedemand ng like and follow back ;)

So, ladies and gents, here's a compilation of my favorite photos so far. :) I wish I have the budget to have them printed and framed in this lifetime! My instagram username is pcess23, follow me and like my posts, maybe? ;)

NKOTBSB Night!

One of the moments that I feel really happy is when I experience something that reminds me of my childhood. Like pag nakakakita ako ng old school sari-sari store food, Disneyland, ligo sa ulan, and yes, Backstreet Boys concert!

Thanks to facebook timeline at nahalukay ko ang status update na 'to 2 years ago. :) Sobrang surreal ng feeling in both concerts <3

BSB Live in Manila, Feb. 27, 2010, Araneta Coliseum

After 2 years since I first saw them live, nakita ko na naman ulit sila tonight! :) Buti na lang may purchasing power na ako at kaya ko ng bumili ng concert tickets! Mga grade 3 or 4 ako nung sikat na sikat sila at wala pa akong pambili ng album 'nun kaya iniintay ko lang magplay sa FM yung kanta nila tapos irerecord ko sa cassette na nilalagyan ko pa ng scotch tape yung butas sa ibabaw para recordable ulit siya. hahaha, tapos nung nag concert sila nung college ako, tumawag pa ako sa mga FM contests para manalo ng tickets! Ang hirap pag hindi ka spoiled nung bata! So, deprived ako sa mga ganyang luho dati, kaya bawi ako ngayong sumusweldo na ako. hehe. 

This time, kasama nila ang New Kids on the Block na sumikat daw around 1989 so kamusta naman, wala akong alam na kanta nila, ay meron pala, pero alam ko lang dahil ni-revive ni Aaron Carter, yung "Please don't go girl" ala Joey McIntyre na mas na-LSS pa ako kesa sa I want it that way.

ayan na silaaaaa omygosh Briaaaaaan!!! I love you!!! <3
parang nung concert nila last time, sobrang kulit ni Brian kung makakaway sa fans. :)

Joey McIntyre! Buong time iniintay kong kantahin yung Stay the Same hahaha. Ang cute niya! :)

Howie D! na back up pa rin ni Kevin sa bridge ng I want it that way

MY FAVORITE BACKSTREET BOY FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER AND EVER!!!
BRIAAAAAAN!!! :)

Ito yung time na mamimili sila ng girls sa audience, tapos "Call me maybe" yung background song, ang cute at kulit nila habang nili-lip sync yung kanta! :)

ang ganda nung nakuha ni Nick, sobrang composed. at ang hot ni Nick habang sinasayawan yung girl!

ang swerte mo lintek kaaaaa!!! ;p

AJ! My second favorite! :) Ang galing niya! The best thing I love about their concerts is how they sing their hits the same way as they sang it before. As in pati yung kulot, second voice at Oh-oh. I don't mind kung recorded man yung supposedly live performance para lang maging plakado yung pagkakakanta. Nakakadagdag siya sa nostalgia :) Sabi nga ng isang member ng NKOTB, it feels like 1989 again! In BSB's case, it felt like I was 10 years old all over again! :)

Si Jordan Knight naman pala ang peg ni Marcelito Pomoy! Fuma-falsetto! Pero ang cute niya! Kung may isip na siguro ako nung sumikat sila, siya ang favorite ko :)

Cutie Patootie with very huge biceps. Akalain mong lumaki siya ng ganyan, hahaha :)

 Aaaaaaw, tapos na :( and they kept on telling that there's no better place to end their world tour but here! :)

Si Joey yung naka leopard tights. Nakaganyan din si AJ nung start ng show. hahaha :)

A few weeks back, nabasa ko yung how to find your one true love book ni Bo Sanchez, sabi niya dun, dapat may non-negotiable and negotiable checklist ang mga girls in finding their one true love, I already have some in my mind pero may nadagdag ako sa "Negotiable" :) Pag 40 years old na ako tapos mag concert sila ulit dito, sana yung asawa ko by then willing akong samahan at gastusan yung VIP ticket ko. hahaha. :) 


'til your next concert loves!!!

saka may naisip na rin ako na ilalagay sa lapida ko

Princess Ramirez 1985 - 20XX

Loving mother, wife, daughter and Backstreet Boys fan

:)

While writing this post, nakikinig/nanonood ako ng videos na kinunan ko during the NKOTBSB concert, ok sana e, hindi shaky yung hands ko, in fairness HD, kaso ang lakas ng boses ko na kumakanta ng pasigaw at monotone ng BSB songs. At may sumisingit pang sigaw na "Briaaaaaaaaa-haaaaaaa-haaaaaan". Hahaha. So, hindi siya magandang i-share. ;)

More Fun in Palawan!

Palawan is my second favorite province next to Pampanga. Well, if we take out the bias, yeah, Palawan is my favorite province in terms of ganda!

I will let the photos speak :)

gutom na... laugh trip 'to. hahaha

masyadong magaling kumuha ng picture yung tour guide naming si Kuya Zandro, hindi niya trip ang zoom out at tabinging shot. hahahaha

kaya kailangan mag sacrifice ng mahilig magtake ng magandang picture ;p

tawang tawa ako sa itsura ko dito pag naka-zoom, hahaha. jump shots are not for me.

Best hopia ever!

Kahit against ako sa group shot na kina-crop ang sarili, ayan ginawa ko siya kase I like me here! hahaha :)

 

photo op with the buwaya. hindi ko siya kayang hawakan.

 

crocodile sisig. hindi ako sure kung legal siya talaga kainin, lasang chicken na beef. or beef na chicken. Mej nalansahan ako. after niyan, madugong byahe na papuntang El Nido. Mga 5 hours na rough at zigzag road. Dinaig ang Baguio. Buti na lang kanya kanyang row kame sa van.

Beautiful view near our inn :)

The gang!

IHG Girls. We miss you Marci! :)

US Partner in Crime. hahaha ;p

fresh na fresh! from bed! walang ligo! :)

first stop: Small and Big Lagoons na swimming galore! in my case, nagpahila ako sa kuyang bangkero kase kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ako umaandar. ang luwag pa ng life vest.

grabe ang ganda! ang ganda ng Palawan! ang ganda ko! choz! ;)

ang dahilan ng "pagkawala" ng underwater cam. ang galing ni kuya! kuya! kuyaaaaaaa! sorry kuyaaaaa!

Halos parehas na parehas ng Coron yung view kung saan ako nasugatan sa paa ng corals. For this trip, nag avail ako ng sapatos na pandagat. para sure na safe na ang aking paa, kahit may mga pictures na ang lakas maka-dance number ng outfit ko dahil mukha siyang boots partnered with tangga! hahaha. :) pansinin si Erle, RnB star, avail na avail ang sumbrero. hahahaha ;p

wow legs. haha

Ewan ko ba ba't lagi akong nasistress pag snorkeling. Traumatized ako pag tinatangay ako ng current papalayo ng bangka. hehe. Ang linaw ng tubig! ganda! :)

 

Lunch and swimming time sa snake island, si kuya zandro, pumupuro na naman sa tumatabinging angle. hahahaha

buti na lang maayos ayos kumuha si kuya clint. ;p

master ko na ang group vanity shot :)

sa barkadahan namen, uso ang factions, pati yung mga kaluma-lumaang grupo nung college hindi kame maka get over. ;p

ExeBOD

breakfast buddy

 obvious bang hindi ko bet dito? mabaho sa loob. hehe

may mga pagkakataong maraming crappy pictures at aasa ka na lang sa masasayang alaala ;p

solo jump shot ko lang dapat to e, pero tignan mo naman ang framing, sakop lahat ng cast. hahaha

buti na lang uso ang crop!

mukha namang enjoy kame. hahaha

we love this, girls!

nakalimutan mag inhale

i would like to thank Target for my $3 swim suit. ang ganda sa picture! ;)

ang masasabi ko lang, bitin ng island hopping. :(

almost beach front yung inn na tinulugan namin, kaya nakapag sunset watching, stroll and tsikahan with Erle pa. :)

lakas maka-virgin ng damit na pinahiram ni Erle. hahaha ;p

photo overload na masyado ang post na 'to kaya separate entry na lang ang Puerto Princesa Underground River. Sana lang talaga hinabaan namin ang stay sa El Nido. Sobrang bitin ng one day pag inisip ang napaka habaaaang byahe. Nevertheless, masaya pa rin. A beautiful paradise with great friends is always worth the long byahe! :)

*photos from Erle, Mae and yours truly :)