Baguio, Balesin & La Union

Finally had the time to creatively put together all the footage from my month-long summer in the Philippines!

Till the next,

M

Macau / Hongkong 2015

Hello, hello, hello! Guess what? I am still alive and kicking! Haha! I can't even remember how long I was gone for. I spent most of September touring my uncle from Australia around the beautiful British Columbia with la familia (rhyme not intended haha!). Then, I had the flu for a week and a half a little over a month ago. Once I had recuperated from that, I was out and about almost on the daily doing my little adventures with friends during the weekends and working tons on the weekdays. Above all else, I have also gotten back into something very dear to my heart which is volunteering for practically anything with a good cause. In a nutshell, I have been utterly busy the past couple of months trying to slowly step out of my comfort zone, get out there and be more active. I have, for the lack of a better term, wasted the first half of this year and so I am really taking advantage of what is left of 2015. I can't believe that there's exactly only 30 days left before 2016. How is that even possible? "Time flies" is not just a mere cliche, it is 101% accurate too. Whew! Now that it is becoming and feeling more wintery outside, I have more time to just 'netflix and chill' in the most literal way possible because the heavens know I am as uninvolved as one can be right now. Haha! Anyway, the purpose of this blog post is for me to show my non-existent editing skills via this video blog of my trip to Macau / Hongkong last May. I traveled with my two lovely aunts and just had a good time. As evidenced by the limited footages, I really had fun burning a few bucks in the casino and in Mong Kok's night market as well as the lovely boat ride with the musical prowess of our gondolier in the heart of the Grand Canals of Shoppes at the Venetian. Most of my unforgettable experiences during that trip is not in this video so I apologize. This only proves that particular moments that do not get filmed or put on social media are the ones that I really have enjoyed the most because I did not even remember busting my camera out. Okay, enough chatter, M! 

Here's the video: 

Till the next,

M

WHISTLER BUNGEE JUMPING 2015

Good day, folks!

I just got back from my three-day Whistler trip and leaving the humble abode in an hour to go camping in Chilliwack; hence, I am squeezing in a quick editing marathon of my bungee jump experience in Whistler and a brief account of how feelings of panic and anxiety went down. Haha! Kidding aside, those body sensations actually did happen before the said jump of my life. Although that was the case, I can say, with my chin up and brow raised, that I am now an official badass and ready to take on probably the most nerve-wrenching jump, skydiving.

This experience was not planned at all because me and my friend, Joana, were thinking of going to Whistler some time in October to finally do it. Even before this planning, me and my friend, Thomas, thought of it a year ago when we did our hike in Squamish but I never pushed through with it because of our disagreeing schedules. He's always talked about how awesome his experience the first and second time around. Hence, one can only imagine the excitement and eagerness I have felt since then. 

My family and I were just hiking Brandywine Falls Provincial Park all the way up to Cheakamus Bungee Bridge, completely unaware of the fact that it was the bridge where the team Whistler Bungee was set up. My uncle, having a knack for extreme once-in-a-lifetime activities, had gone skydiving before and so was very eager to try out bungee jumping. I was down and so was my sister. I immediately ceased all apprehensions and just channeled my inner daredevil, booked it and shook off all my "I can't do it" alibis. 

...And so let me present to you my full bungee jump experience through this video: Whistler Bungee Jumping 2015

All harnessed and ready!

Trying my best to throw a smile at the photographer although my legs are shaking tremendously!

GoPro all taped up on my hand! I recommend doing this rather than using a stick or a helmet mount.

Two things... First, can we just take a moment to appreciate technology that let's us document extraordinary experiences like this? How amazing is that footage all brought to us by the incredible GoPro device (not sponsored at all, how I wish though)? Another thing is the after-jump feeling. Let me tell you how grateful I am to have had this opportunity to do something unbelievable and unleash my thrill-seeking side. I realized that there really is nothing that we cannot do in this world. No matter how scared we are to do something or how doubtful we get about our capabilities to accomplish something, if we commit ourselves to the thirst for living and enjoying every bit of it, we can do it. So to anyone out there who has always craved to experience something crazy and exhilarating and is willing to pay a good 130 bucks, I say go drive up to Whistler, be a kickass and do it! Every penny was definitely worth it! Not to mention, the successful jumper gets a free shirt and the Whistler Bungee has a great team to motivate you and keep your focus on just having the best time of your life. 

That's about it for now! Off to my next adventure aka our annual camping trip!

Hope y'all are having the best summer,

Mace

VANCOUVER PRIDE 2015

Before anything else, I'd like to greet all the out, loud and proud lovely humans out there a HAPPY PRIDE!!!!! This day of the year marks a day of liberation and first-hand freedom for all our proud lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans in Vancouver and also around the globe! Aaaah!! How honored are we to live in a generation wherein freedom of gender and/or sexuality is progressively celebrated? I can go on and on about this but let's just let the happy photos translate the ecstasy that was pride day!

The parade started at Robson and Thurlow and ended at Sunset Beach for the main festival celebration. Here are some photos of the parade at Robson Street this afternoon...

LOVE

LOVELY PROUD SMILES

FREEDOM

PROUD

PROUD AT ANY AGE. YES, THIS IS WHAT PRIDE IS ALL ABOUT.

It was, indeed, a wonderful weekend for Vancouver with the performance and win at the Celebration of Lights last Saturday and the successful pride event! Great long weekend so far! I hope y'all have a happy and kickass BC Day today, Vancouverites!

Keep enjoying the summer,

Macy

Vlog #1: Richmond Night Market

Hey there, lovelies! Soooo what have you been up to lately? As for me, I have been trying something new. Well, filming videos has been my little hobby for the longest time now but actually compiling and editing them into an actual video blog have not been a reality since today. 

My family and I went to the Richmond Night Market last Saturday so I took the chance to film "properly" so I can come up with this post. The night market opens at 7 in the evening until 11 or midnight every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Stat. Mondays. I suggest you go towards the later end of the night though because there are lesser people and some stalls would offer deals and specials on food towards closing time. Nonetheless, it was fun being there during the peak time and being in line-ups with people who have the same love or enjoyment for all sorts of food! There really is no need to mention my love for food especially The Signature squid and lamb skewer from this particular night market. Aaaaah, deliciousness everywhere! Totally recommend! So enough chit chat, here's the video! 

P.S. Forgive my newbie-ness at this! Enjoy!

Be out there & kickass,

Mace

Back from Hiatus

Hello, virtual world! Guess who's risen from the dead... it's me! Yes, I am still alive and kicking.

It has been nine months and I have missed publishing my thoughts out in the open for some lovely strangers to read... or scroll through. Haha! I know some people just go straight to view the photos. I, myself, is raising my free hand guilty as I type. Anyway, a lot has happened within my hiatus which I prefer not to divulge. Although that's the case, quite a few parts of that half a year were fantastic. I was home for a month-long vacation in the Philippines last April for my birthday (Ugh, how I dislike the fact that people do age without permission). Oh, how I miss my lovely family and friends back home as well as the white sand beaches and crystal clear waters of the amazing Balesin and the chill vibes of La Union. I do not, however, miss the sauna that is PH. Lol! Before going back to Vancouver, I also took a detour to Macau & Hongkong to enjoy some cheap shopping and burn some cash over slot machines; hence, the reason as to why homegurl is broke. Lol! Aside from that, now that I am back to the grind, I am, slowly but surely, getting my shit together. Homegurl just recently got hired for full-time work and is ready to save up to travel the world and save some bucks for my future charitable institution for street children. I know there's a long way to go but at least I've already hopped on the train towards my long-term goals. Enough of the non-sense rant and let's jump on to what happened today. 

Lynn Canyon Park happened today. My first hike of the summer that is! I went straight there with one of my bros early in the morning after doing a graveyard shift. Way to test my sleep-is-for-the-weak motto!

Pictures, pictures, pictures... here y'all go. They're all me cos I am narcissistic. Haha!

Suspension Bridge

Being one with nature...

Hikes are one of the most relaxing things you can do with nature in the summer. If you are not one to like getting active and straining your body over steep hikes, simple trails like this is the way to go! Personally, hikes are my favorite down times other than sitting in front of the beach, of course. More than appreciating how beautiful our Mother Earth is, I get to appreciate the break from the hustle and bustle that is the city. I urge you to stop saying you are not the hiking type. Try it once or twice with good company or maybe even just yourself, then feel free to tell me it's not the breather you need. I promise you will not only enjoy, you are also going to lose that couch potato fats you have stored over the colder months. So get out there. :) 

That's it, folks! I hope you try and enjoy life no matter what the season is!

'til the next, Mace

Hey there, sad face already on the verge of giving up. Walking away from the things that hurt your soul is not the same as giving up. Sometimes to let go is just what you need in order to see that you deserve the kind of happiness that is beyond your definition of it. The Higher Being has greater plans that you are just not able to fathom as of the moment. If you do not believe in a Higher Being then trust the universe. No person or thing in this world is ever worth giving your life up for.  Hang in there, sweet face. There is no way it is not going to get better in time. It will take a while but nothing worth having comes easy and you know that. (More on my next post)

T-Shirt Dress Kind of Day

HAPPY OCTOBER LOVELY HUMANS!

So basically, my sister and I decided to spend last Sunday at the mall. Not because I have gone on a clothing rampage again. I was just there to be her enabler (not that my sister needed any enabling because she loves clothes as much as I do). I am actually on a shopping detox right now because my family is saving up for something big *fingerscrossed*. It has been going on for almost two months now and I am pretty pleased with how I am keeping up with it. For some people, it is not a challenge at all but for some that lusts styling like me, it sucks. However, after you've actually gone to the mall and went out every single store empty-handed - without an item of clothing or without using that magical card, it is so fulfilling. I am sort of proud of myself, to be honest. 

Anyway, here's my one-piece outfit of the day:

Top to bottom:

Sunglasses | Zara

Band T-Shirt | H&M

Black Booties | F21

I know a lot of rock band fans who dislike it when people wear band tees that they do not know of. Frankly speaking, I am not a fan of the Ramones. I do not know all of their songs. However, I love Blitzkrieg Bop. It is one of my all-time favorite songs. I do not know if that gives me the right to where a Ramones tee, but to be honest, I do not care. It is for the reason that I always believe in the fashion philosophy of wearing whatever heck you would like to wear. Plus, this t-shirt dress is too comfortable to pass on and not to mention, totally up my alley. 

That's about it. Hope you are having a perftabulous day! I know I am ♥

'Til the next,

Macy