A Glimpse into Mace´s World

A message from a hopeless romantic to her soulmate

2016-01-10T12:05:00.000-08:00

Oh my beau, where art thou? I thought all this time you came along, but I´m mistaken.Why haven´t you showed up yet??..Oh my soul mate! where art thou?.I tried to look for you but to no avail.I´ve been waiting for ages.Should I leave it up to the stars and let destiny decide the right time??
I can´t wait for the time when our paths cross.The glorious moment when your gaze locks into mine that will send shivers down my spine...The exact moment when you flash me a smile that will make me stop in my tracks and bring never ending bliss..I may not have met you, but I know you are somewhere out there..Only heaven and stars know.Can´t wait to see your lovely countenance even in my dreams. Now I just let the wind carry these words of mine and whisper them into your ears.See you soon!!

A message from a hopeless romantic to her soul mate

2016-01-10T11:57:00.003-08:00

Lisbon, The place to be...

2015-08-12T15:12:00.000-07:00

To each his own.....

There are myriad of reasons for our fascination with a place.

One sample reason is its landscape and
picturesque sceneries that can leave every visitor spellbound.. Another reason is palatable cuisine and a wide choice of outdoor activities.There are also those who are drawn to a place mainly because of its rich history as well as its significant contributions to civilization and this explains my fascination with the land of "FADO".

Ever since``the exploration age´´ was discussed in my history class in high school, I have always been fascinated with this beautiful country. Portugal was one of the 4 main countries that spearheaded the world exploration in the 15th century and great explorers like Vasco De Gama
who discovered Brazil and Magellan hailed from Portugal. Its historical legacy is what has indeed sparked my interest to visit the place and before I knew it,my dream finally became a reality and I found myself in its gorgeous capital, Lisbon.

LISBON is a hilly capital and a sprawling city dotted with quaint architectural buildings.The century-old wooden trams and iron funiculars add to its beauty and charm.
At every turn you will find buildings and houses whose facades are decorated wih tiles.As I wandered around, I felt like I was taken back to the 15th century when Lisbon was still in its glory....I couldn´t help but think about the `Portuguese Renaissance´´ explorers, while exploring the city. It was exciting to be walking the same path where the likes of Bartholome Dias, Vasco De Gama and Prince Henry could probably have passed through...In every corner, the view is simply breathtaking.Even if there are some buildings that look as if they were going to crumble, the place is still lovely in its own right..

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP

JERONIMOS MONASTERY
A trip to Lisbon won´t be complete without a visit to Jeronimos monastery, one of the most beautiful buildings in Portugal and a classic example of
Manueline architecture, a style unique to Portugal. It is a fusion of gothic, moorish and Renaissance influences. Built by King Manuel in the 15th century, the monastery contains the tomb of King Manuel and other Portuguese historical figures including Vasco de Gama, whose accomplishments at sea inspired the king to build the monastery

BELEM TOWER

Classified as UNESCO heritage site,the tower is undoubtedly one of Lisbons
most iconic landmarks.Commissioned by King John II to be part of a defense system at the mouth of the Tagus river, the tower is located right across Jeronimos monastery...It is a symbol of Portugals maritime glory as well as classic example of Manueline architecture..A must-see attraction!

DISCOVERY MONUMENT

Shaped in the form of a ship, this monument was built in honor of Prince Henry , The Navigator.It is located right on the spot where famous exolorers sailed from.Furthermore, Chistopher Columbus

is said to have docked in this place on his way back to Spain. What a gratifying and rewarding experience for me to visit the place in which great voyagers from Age of Discovery had once set foot..

MOSAIC MAP

A stone´s throw away from Discovery monument, a beautiful mosaic map on the ground details all the countries that all Portuguese explorers
had explored during the Age of Discovery.Very informative and educational, it is something not to be missed.

PASTEIS DE BELEM

This shop is famous for its cinnamon -sprinkled custard...A horde of tourists flock to this pastry shop before and after visiting Belem Tower and

Jeronimo´s monastery

It is always jampacked so one has to be patient enough to wait in a long queau in order to get their hands on the most sought - after portuguese pastry.
As I took a bite, it melted right into my mouth..My long wait in the queau was worth it..Its taste was heavenly!It was soo good that I could eat a dozen in one sitting..

FADO SHOW-

No visit to Lisbon is complete without watching a fado show...If Flamenco is to Spain, Fado is to Portugal..Fado is a melancholic song accompanied by guitar

or Mandolin..Its theme usually tackles death, betrayal in love, despair and suffering..Fado music is the heart of Portuguese soul.

SANTA JUSTA ELEVATOR

As I was making my way for Chiado station, I chanced upon this extraordinary structure which is one of the city´s important landmarks and known as

"Elevator of Carmo". Built at the turn of century, this lift is 32 meter high and connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo to Carma Square and used to be powered by steam. At the top of the tower one may enjoy an observation deck with a beautiful view of the city and river.

TILE DECOR

One thing that is undeniably interesting about Lisbon is that there are tile decorations in every corner..no wonder why Lisbon has been dubbed as the city of tiles ..In every corner of the city,
you will find tile -decorated pathways, and walkways . Buildings and houses whose facades are decorated with tiles add to the uniqueness and charm of this city...

Having experienced some glorious things about Lisbon, I highly recommend this place to be on the bucket list
of every travel enthusiast.Quaint and Charming are two words that sum up this European gem. My trip may have ended, but a part of me remains in the city..
As its beauty and charm is beckoning, I keep tellin myself I SHALL RETURN.....

My Words of Wisdom

2014-05-13T11:14:00.002-07:00

Haters are jealous losers who hate to be outdone by others...

When someone hates me for no apparent reason, I tell them " Eat your heart out"

The greatest challenge you can ever face is to challenge yourself....

A fault finder is nothing but a walking magnifying glass, focusing even on tiniest details..

Backfighters are like snipers who are skilled at shooting their enemies from a concealed place.

The most stupid thing to do is to lose your brains to your ass..

There is only one difference between ambition and a tall building...ambition has no limits..

Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of equality in this world...

Isolation is a choice...It is a lot better than being surrounded by people who you think are not on the same wavelength as you..

The worst dilemma that a person can ever face is to select between two equally bad choices...

To be at the forefront of everything means to Know the unknown, and to explore the unexplored

Envious people are too blind to see their own strengths..

It is a matter of believing that success is within your grasp...

I never allow myself to envy anyone....I aspire to be the object of envy instead....

Victory is not about outshining others..It is about overcoming any difficult situation in life...

Being in a bad mood is like a viral disease....It is contagious...

The greatest of human weaknesses is to be too weak to fight one´s own weakness

Turn your back on a great opportunity, it will drift away for good; Turn your back on your ultimate dream, it will come back to haunt you forever...

Success is failure when you do not have anyone to share it with.....

There is a parallelism between the art of lying and painting...Both require vivid imagination....

Life can be compared to a boxing ring...We are compelled to punch our way to victory....

They say that life is a stage..we are all actors and actresses, but I beg to disagree...For me, life is behind the stage..we are the directors and scriptwriters...as simple as that...

There is a thick line between Optimism and Delusion...If you think you´re good enough, it´s optimism...But if you think you´re the best, it is nothing but Delusion...

Life is like a filet mignon..Savor it while it lasts...

My fondant cake designs

2013-08-03T12:20:00.001-07:00

My interest in fondant decorating started way back in 2011,after stumbling upon some photos of beautifully - decorated, and fancy fondant birthday cakes online.What really fascinated me was the fact that out of this dough-like sugar paste , you could easily come up with every possible design depending on how far you could push your creativity , from simple flowers, and trees down to shoes and bags.. Upon seeing those lovely creations, I said to myself, if they could make such beautiful cakes, why couldn´t I?:) So, from then on, I went out of my way to learn the ``ins and outs´´ of fondant decorating, and put it to practice at the same time... Believe it or not,I did not sign up for a fondant-decorating course at all:). I just learned the techniques all by myself through free online courses on you tube and other sites:) ....I believe that as long as you have the willingness and perseverance , you could go a long way and learn a great deal ,regardless of where you learn it from :) ..So, without further ado, here is a glimpse of some of my creations..

A poem that has no title

2013-08-03T10:57:00.003-07:00

you are the flame that sets my soul on fire...
and I am like the moth that is drawn to your irresistable heat.
unmindful of the grim consequence , my wings are now scorched as
I keep flying around your deadly flame....

All about you are so captivating and hard to resist
you have indeed made me a prisoner of your charm
with the shackles of your passion binding my sanity completely....

I am completely lost in you, and thoughts of you really
consume me ..
There is not a day that goes by without this feeling of longingness!!!

A poem that has no title

2013-08-03T10:57:00.001-07:00

Ray of light

2013-04-08T12:43:00.003-07:00

To my dismay , the door suddenly shut down , and I found myself locked out.
desperate to get back in, I remained at the door knocking and begging,
but my pleas just fell upon the deaf ears.
still hoping, I kept knocking harder than I could imagine, but to no avail.All at once, I felt my spirits sink and a pang of sadness shot through me like a stray bullet.Only then it dawned on me
that it was but a colossal waste of efforts. !!

However, just when I was on the verge of succumbing to complete dreariness,
another door across suddenly swung open, with the ray of light streaming towards me.
What a beautiful sight to behold !
to my surprise, I felt a stab of excitement! and the joy suddenly chased away the chagrin in me.
like a magnet, it sucked me in closer and when I looked up, I found myself standing before the most beautiful ray of light I have ever laid my eyes on. It was just too good to be true. I let myself in and as I closed the door behind me, I took a sigh of relief while basking in the light .

AND THEN,THE JOY JUST KEEPS ON FLOWING AS THE SAGA CONTINUES..............

Lesson to Live by

2012-05-17T01:55:00.003-07:00

At some point in our lives, we were careless, and selfish, . We cared for nothing but only superficialties here on earth.But all of a sudden , a point of realization came rushing like cold water hitting us...Voila!! We just found ourselves realizing the most important lessons in life..They may vary from person to person but what matters most is that we have learned something that we can live by on a day to day basis. I, for one have a lesson to live by and everytime I´m   asked about it, here is my reply..

We should use our  eyes to see the beauty in others and not their ugliness....
We should use our  ears to listen to our inner voice and not to pointless chatters....
We should use our mouth to spread good words about others, instead of negative and untruthful remarks...
We should use our feet to stand firm on our ground and no to walk proudly...
We should use our hands to lift people up and not to pull them down..
We should use our arms to welcome those at the bottom and not just those at the top...

In a nutshell, we should learn to use everything we have in a more profound way...

It´s a moisturizer! it´s a foundation!.No, it´s BB CREAM!!

2012-04-22T01:35:00.000-07:00

If you´re looking for a cream that serves as an anti-oxidant moisturizer and at the same time as a primer and foundation, your search is over.BB Cream is the Ultimate answer!

Since many of you are totally clueless about it and some of you have not even heard of this product, let me give you a lowdown on this wonder cream.

A total system cream that serves multiple functions, BB cream stands for ´´blemish balm´´ or ´´beauty balm´´. It is a formulated and innovative cream with ingredients making your skin smooth and fair. It provides all- in - one properties and serves many functions at one go . It provides a good base for makeup like a primer, evens out complexion like a tinted moisturiser, serves as a concealer, hydrates your skin , brightens and perks up a dull complexion and even functions as a sunblock. Some also have healing, soothing, whitening and anti-ageing properties.Sounds too good to be true, doesn´t it?

The formulation was concocted by a German dermatologist and was originally used to protect skin after laser procedures and surgery.Then, it was picked up and popularized by a Korean celebrity, when she credited one for her flawless skin .Since then, it has taken over the asian beauty markets and has become a big hit. Even the giant cosmetic brands in the western countries have also jumped on the bandwagon. In fact, Garnier, is the first company to have introduced BB cream to the western markets.Then, other famous brands such as MAC, Clinique and Estee lauder followed suit and launched their own versions of BB cream, capitalizing on the trend.So far, I have tried Garnier skin Perfector and I must say that I´m satisfied with the result.It provides smooth texture and gives better coverage than a tinted moisturizer.On the other hand, I am contemplating about giving other brands a shot in order to find out which one suits me best.I will just keep you updated about the outcome..

In the meantime, you will find below some BB Cream Brands, which are available in different tints and shades.

Maybelline BB Cream
Missha SPF 42
MAC Prep & Prime BB Cream SPF 32
Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector
Clinique Age Defense BB cream
Estee Lauder
Boscia BB Cream
Bobbi Brown BB cream

pang of hope

2012-04-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

Everything was   once bleak , barren and desolate ,
but things started to come to life after you came into the picture...
It´s amazing how you made this lady  stop in her tracks and turned
everything blissful, like an angel poking her in the eye
with a beautifully binding light and taking her afloat to paradise...
It may be an exaggeration, but the feelings are so intoxicating
and exhilirating that  they can be compared to the`` State of  Nirvana´´....
Words are running out to further describe   how she feels ,  quite for ``undefined feeling´´
Close yet so far, you make her wish that things would manifest into reality,
and more often than not, she always finds herself in a wishful thinking mode ...
Just the prospect of you being close to her sends shivers down her spine and
leaves her breathless......
Enjoying every minute of the heavenly ``scenarios´´   inside her head ....
Basking in warm, happy thoughts of you
What a  great diversion she gets herself into!...
An escape from reality??. Well, it is not!!........It only means how much she thrives on``hope´´just to keep her going.......
Like   a book whose last remaining chapters
are about to unfold , her life is filled with excitement  ....The ending may be either a happy or a tragic one, but nothing would keep her from hoping fervently  ...Anyhow, she may not know much but there is only one thing she is certain about :
If things she hopes for would come to reality , everything would be perfect to the core!!!1

Law of Attraction

2012-04-03T11:30:00.000-07:00

Ever heard about the Law of attraction?If not, Law of attraction is a principle based on Quantum Physics, which states that we attract into our lives whatever we focus on.In short, our minds are powerful and all of us have the innate ability to manifest into reality whatever we always think about .Please keep in mind that positive thoughts attract positive chain of events and negative thoughts attract negative circumstances.To give you a clearer picture of Law of Attraction, please watch this video:

5 tourist destinations that may disappear soon

2012-04-01T08:25:00.001-07:00

Here, today ; Gone, tomorrow

Our planet is suffering a series of dramatic changes , with disastrous effects on human life and Earth geography. In fact, many places on earth are at the risk of vanishing for good in many years to come..Below, I have listed five of the popular tourist destinations that are now under the threat of impending doom.

VENICE

Renowned for its beautiful canals and gondolas , Venice is considered to be one of the most romantic places in the world....Thousands of tourist every year flock to this Italian city to witness its grandeur and beauty.But, it is hard to imagine that this magnificent city is at the risk of being wiped out from the map in the future...Due to the geological shift, the city is sinking at a rate of two and a half inches per decade. Demise for Venice by the end of century may be inevitable...

MALDIVES

A beautiful island situated in the Indian Ocean , Maldives is the smallest Asian country in both population and land area.With its beautiful beaches and coral reefs, this place is a geographical marvel..However, this paradise is facing major environmental issues.If sea levels continue to rise due to Greenhouse effects, this beautiful island nation may disappear from the map.In fact, the country´s president has already announced his plans to purchase new land in India, or Australia where Maldives citizens will be relocated

DEAD SEA, JORDAN

Dead Sea is the lowest spot on the ground with the highest concentration of salt and minerals . The place has attracted many visitors since ancient times, including King Herod the Great and the beautiful Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra due to its unusually warm and mineral-rich water.Many people believe that the mud of the Dead sea has special healing properties and many tourist flock to this place for that reason.Unfortunately, it won´t be long before it vanishes for good.Scientists predict that Dead Sea will dry up by year 2050.

ALETSCH ,GLACIER

Located in Switzerland, Aletsch Glacier is a very popular site among lovers of high altitude peaks.But, bad news is on the horizon. Due to the continous reduction of the Glacier´s volume, which is attributed to global warming, Switzerland will be deprived of these alpine jewels in years to come.

TUVALU,POLYNESIAN ISLAND

A polynesian island nation located in the Pacific region midway between Hawaii and Australia.Like Maldives, this island is low-lying and might be submerged under water in years to come..New Zealand has already agreed to grant refuge to 75 Tuvaluans every year.

The image in my mind...

2012-03-31T15:12:00.000-07:00

To my chagrin, I woke up and found myself ,trapped on a remote, desolated island, surrounded by a boundless sea of water ,whose depth is seemingly unfathomable ....loooking around , I see no hope of ever escaping...I´m stuck in the middle of nowhere.... .Fear starts enveloping my entire body sending shivers down my spine..I´m beginning to feel this qualmy sense of danger enter my bosom and beads of perspirations start to bud and slip..... What do I do??The more I ponder about this million dollar question, the more complex it gets..., Should I attempt to escape and cross to the other side, more obstacles and troubles might come my way... and I probably end up in a situation that is even WORSE. .....A classic example of Catch 22 indeed, so to speak.. ...... So, I am left with no choice but `to feel helpless´´.... the next best words I can think of to describe this gruesome situation..

But then my inner voice starts kicking in, reminding me that ..`` every cloud has a silver lining´´.
As I look up at the bright azure sky , a pang of hope somehow hits me....Birds hovering and flying in different directions are indeed a sight to behold, providing me with a source of relief and joy in the face of danger and tribulations.... ``I must be strong and hopeful´´, as I continue to remind myself but then again, fear still dwells inside me, burstign in and out from time to time.....I wonder when it will end??

LIGHTS, CAMERA , ACTION MOVIES

2012-03-31T09:45:00.000-07:00

Here are my all -time favorite action movies that you might have missed, but are definitely worth your time to seek out.

Scarface - Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiper

Face Off - John Travolta and Nicholas Cage

Boondock Saints - Willem Dafoe, Sean Patrick Connery & Norman Reedus

Charlie´s Angels - Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymoore

Heat - Al Pacino and Robert De Niro

The Recruit - Collin Farrel & Al Pacino

The Rock - Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage

The Mask of Zorro - Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones

The Negotiator - Kevin Spacey and Samuel Jacson

The Punisher - Thomas Jane and John Travolta

How to wipe out negative thoughts...

2012-03-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

``Faith can move a mountain´´.This simply tells us how the power of belief can bring us momentous success in life. There is nothing mystical or magical about it. It is just the thermostat that regulates what we accomplish in life.We are aby-product of our own thoughts.We can manifest into reality what we envision ourselves to be through the way we think. Bear in mind that ´´ Self Doubt´´ is our mortal enemy . It is what holds us back and prevents us from manifesting our dreams into reality. In order for us to go places , we should always exhibit the `` I can ´´ attitude and harness the power of belief. Believe BIG and everything will fall into place.

However, It is inevitable that we experience setbacks at times, which can cause depression and unhappiness.Some of us have the tendency to self destruct and lose motivation to carry on once we get frustrated.. Not to mention, we end up losing faith in ourselves and then endless negative thoughts start creeping in.But there is no point of aggravating the situation. Instead of sitting around and moping about them day in and day out, we should try to shift our mindset towards something positive instead, so we could get ourselves back on track and carry on. I couldn´t help but recall what I read from some self help book a few months ago. According to the book, our mind is a ``thought factory´´. It´s a busy factory producing countless thoughts every single day. Production in our thought factory is under the supervision of two foremen, Mr Triumph and Mr. Defeat. Mr. Triumph is responsible for producing positive thoughts and gives us the reasons why we can, and why we are qualified. Whereas, Mr. Defeat is the one in charge of producing the negative thoughts and expert in providing us reasons why we can´t and why we´re inadequate.His expertise is the ``why we will fail´´ chain of thoughts.Both of them are immensely obedient.They snap to attention immediately.A positive signal will summon Mr. Triump and a negative signal will bring Mr. Defeat forward.The more work you give either of them, the stronger he becomes.If Mr Defeat is given more work, he takes up more space in our minds. Eventually, he will take over the entire thought manufacturing division and virtually all thought will be of a negative nature.The wise thing to do is to boot out Mr. Defeat.This paradigm brings us into conclusion that positive thoughts attract positive chain of events and negative thouhts attract negative circumstances..One classic example is a sales man who always dreads not reaching his sales quota and every single day, he is worried about losing his clients to the company´s competitors.He dwells on the negative scenarios so much that he attracts a negative chain of events.Before he knows it, he starts losing his clients and eventually fails to reach the sales target.Instead of focusing on his positive strengths as a salesperson, he is so preoccupied with negative thoughts that he couln´t perform effectively. In same fashion, it is important for each one of us to think positively,instead of entertaining negative thoughts all the time. Otherwise, we will get bogged down with woes and worries and have nowhere to go but a path of negativities.In order to avoid this, negative thoughts should be totally wiped out. Here are some proven techniques I would like to share with you on how to do so once they start popping in..

1.Try to meditate every day.. Meditation helps to relax your minds and purge all the negative thoughts..

2...Think of any good thoughts You may recall any good memory from the past or think of anything that puts a smile on your face.This could be a toddler , your crush or even your pets. This technique really helps a lot to shift your mindset everytime frustration turns its ugly head..

3 Engage in any activity. One effective way to break free from negative thoughts is to lose yourself in any activity, such as learning new hobbies, participating in a sports festival , gardening etc.

4.Think of any famous personality whose achievements inspire you a lot and always tell yourself `` If they can, why can´t I´´ .

5.Do positive affirmations everyday.They prove to be of great help in conquering your fears and doubts and really work wonders in sending positive signals to your subconcious minds.Remember subconscious minds can be programmed to achieve your desired result. By controlling the inputs or thoughts of the subconscious, you can control your accomplishments.

Reality bites

2012-03-26T11:28:00.003-07:00

Reality bites ....I am like a flightless bird with broken wings
wishing to fly beyond the horizon with you, but to no avail...
As Cliche as it may sound, I am an open wound you left behind,
taking ages to heal...
exposed to more complications´,it seems incurable...
even the most potent cure won´t do,..
the demise of once beautiful memory seems irreversible ..
it takes only a miracle to bring it to life again..
Call it   insanity , but I  remain your inseperable shadow
trailing behind every inch of you...
like a gust of wind , whispering into your soul,
and trying to reawake your senses,
hoping those ``sparks ´´ would return ...
in my loneliness,, I unlock the memory box bearing all
the sweet nothings of the past .. Gazing inside fills my silence with tears..
Just Can´t  seem to find a way to lock its thousand locks and cast it into the fire of oblivion...
As Melancholy ensues ...dry brittle leaves , fall to the ground
carried by the swift currents into different directions,
storm clouds loom
and darkness creeping in---
-Such is also my fate...riding on the winds of time and braving through  this darkness

Dresses that never go out of style

2012-03-25T13:51:00.001-07:00

Dresses are essential components of every woman´s wardrobe.They create the basis for a complete outfit with the right accessories in one garment, and not to mention, they add feminine flair to a woman´s appearance. Many women love the idea of dressing up no matter what the occasion is. Whether they are opting for day or party dresses, they should bear in mind that they will never go wrong with chic and classic styles--,.In this blog, I have chosen the Top five dreses that never go out of style:

Short Tube Dresses

These are popular among many women, regardless of their height and sizes.They are gorgeous and very feminine , especially when complemented with the right accessories..

Off - shoulder Dresses

Ideal for those women who want to look sexy , but have inhibitions to wear sexy dresses.. Simple yet elegant...

Haltered dresses

Whether short or long, this style is `´reminiscent´´ of a femme fatale look..

One - shoulder dresses

The asymmetrical flow of a one-shoulder dress complements most all figure types.Whether loose and flowing or fitted, one shoulder dresses look gorgeous and feminine..

Spaghetti - strapped dresses

Simple yet stunning, these dresses should be in every woman´s wardrobe. They simply bring
out the sexiness and feminity in every woman.

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho

2012-03-24T15:00:00.001-07:00

If there is one book that inspired me to unravel my ``purpose´´ in life and to pursue my dreams, it should be none other than ``The Alchemist´´ by an illustrious Brazilian writer, Paulo Coelho...

The book's main theme is about finding one´s self destiny. It provides every reader encouragement, and motivation to follow their dreams in spite of the stumbling blocks they encounter along their path...

Basically,thestory revolves around an Andalusian shepherd boy who leaves his homeland in quest for treasure elsewhere.Readers accompany him on this allegorical journey, discovering through the boy´s trials that faith in one’s personal dreams will always prevail against trials and tribulations. The Alchemist is very inspirational and a must read novel.

Below, you will find some of the significant lines and quotes from the book, that are deeply etched in my mind...

When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it...
There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
When you want something with all your heart, that’s when you are closest to the Soul of the World. It’s always a positive force
Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”
It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.
The secret is here in the present. If you pay attention to the present, you can improve upon it. And, if you improve on the present, what comes later will also be better. Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves his children. Each day, in itself, brings with it an eternity.
Everything has been written by the same hand.
It's not what enters men's mouths that's evil. It's what comes out of their mouths that is.
Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You've got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense.
Life attracts life.
Don't think about what you've left behind.
You don't even have to understand the desert: all you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation.
Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there.
People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them.
Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him.
When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed.
Dreams are the language of God.
It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary
The boy didn't know what a person's "destiny" was.
"It's what you have always wanted to accomplish. Everyone, when they are young, knows what their destiny is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their destiny... It's a force that appears to be negative, but actually shows you how to realize your destiny. It prepares your spirit and you will, because there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth."
When each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.
God has prepared a path for everyone to follow. You just have to read the omens that he left for you
I'm afraid that if my dream is realized, I'll have no reason to go on living.
Every blessing ignored becomes a curse.
Language without words… the universal language.
What happens once will never happen again. But what happens twice will surely happen a third time
What you still need to know is this: before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward that dream. That’s the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one “dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.

Milan: Overrated Tourist Destination

2012-03-20T12:45:00.001-07:00

I bet many of you are planning to visit Milan and wondering what this city has to offer. In this blog, I would like to share with you some of my experiences and insights about this famous place.

As you may know, Milan is best known for its cosmopolitan and sophisticated lifestyle and has been dubbed as the Fashion Capital of Italy. Due to media hype, the city has gained its popularity and has been glamorized in many years, especially with its yearly international event : Milan Fashion Week, thus making it an overrated city in my opinion.

Long before I got the opportunity to travel to the fashion capital, I had been greatly influenced by what I always read, and heard about this city. Many documentary and mainstream films I´ve seen in the past featuring Milan were contributing factors in shaping my ``desire´´ to visit the place. In fact, it was a filipino film, entitled ``Milan´´ that really kicked up my interest. The excitment kept growing after settling down in a nearby city in Europe, since I knew I was only few steps closer towards fulfilling my desire. Then in March 2011, I finally found myself exploring the city of Lombardy -- The fashion capital unfolded right before my eyes!

One of the main tourists attractions in Milan that I got to visit is the Duomo, which is the fourth largest cathedral in the worldand the largest in Italy. Unknown to many, it took almost 6 centuries to complete and contains more than 3,500 statues and 52 enormous columns inside. This masterpiece is indeed breathtaking and an ideal place if you wish to get a bird´s eye view of the city center..

Another popular place is The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Arcade , which is the oldest shopping center in Italy, dating back to 1867 and a popular hangout to unwind, for both tourists and locals alike. To be honest, it was a bit disappointing as it was not something I had expected. It was just an ordinary arcade filled with expensive restaurants and shops. And much to my chagrin, I didn´t find anything special about the place.. In short, it was flat and boring, to say the least. The only thing that made my day during my visit to the arcade was the bull mosaic on the ground. Legend holds that stepping on the bull's testicles brings good luck and I was one of the tourists who lined up to give it a try:))

Other famous places are the Theatre Museum at La Scala , a world-famous opera house and the 15th-century Sforzesco Castle's Museum of Historic Art. The Gallery of Modern Art is also a major attraction and the Pinacoteca di Brera exhibits collections of medieval and Renaissance art, including the work of Napoleon.

The crux of the question : Does Milan offer other important attractions apart from what has been mentioned above? Unfortunately, I couldn´t think of anything else that I find significantly interesting. Nothing else is of artistic importance, so to speak. However, I would like to reiterate that the place coud be a perfect getaway for anyone loaded with money and who love designer brands as well , since Milan offers a plethora of international high end designer shops. One important shopping district in Milan is Quadrilattero della Moda, where many well-known fashion designers have their high-end boutiques and stores from Italian designers to all the world famous brands.You name it and the place has it.....from Italian brands such as Bvlagri, Gucci, Prada, Fendi, and Versace down to international labels, such as Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors , Chanel , and LV

Overall, Milan lacks the artistic elements. In fact, many tourists who have been to this city think that it is the least beautiful compared to other Italian cities. The city is filled with run down old - looking buildings , which detract from its overall beauty and not to mention, it doesn´t offer so many activities and places of attraction for anyone to come back , except for shopping . But, I have to give Milan a credit though, for its great and palettable cuisine and ``aperetivo´´, a happy hour in Milan, where you can enjoy an `` eat-all-you-can´´ dinner once you buy a drink for only 8 to 10 euros. But, in general, I think Milan is just overrated and media -hyped .It is not what it is cracked up to be. In other words, , you never know what the place is really like until you experience it....

A Journey To The Land of Smiles

2012-03-17T07:55:00.002-07:00

Upon my arrival in Bangkok Airport, a smiling ground stewardess greeted me with her hands clasped together, a slight nod and the words Sawasdee ka , the traditional Thai greeting. It made a wonderful start to my journey to the land of smiles.

Sitting in a cab all the way to my friend´s residence in LADPRAO,I noticed that Bangkok is a sprawling mishmash of modern and ancient dotted with high rise buildings, chain stores, “Wats´´(Thai temples) and scores of other attractions.The grandeur of the "City of Angels" started to unfold right before my eyes as I embarked on the journey together with my friend. We went on several major sightseeing tour.A visit to “The Grand Palace" , one of Thailand´s most holy sites built around 1782, and “The Wat Po“ , which houses the biggest reclining Buddha in South East Asia. A river cruise through Chao Phraya River was indeed delightful as I enjoyed a spectacular view of WAT ARUN ( Temple of Dawn) situated on the bank of the river and traditional Thai houses amongst others.

Bargain Shopping

There is more to Bangkok than temples. Shops and malls are everywhere.One of the biggest in Siam center is the MBK or Mahbookrong Mall where you can haggle over the prices of goods.Not to mention the weekend market known as Chatuchak Market, a sprawling maze of food stalls, pet stores, clothing at rock-bottom prices, jewelry and a plethora of other dirt cheap items.

Night Life

While strolling through one of the streets, a three-wheeled motor vehicle taxi, popularly known as “TUKTUK“ caught my attention. Together with my friend, I took a ride in it and headed off to PATPONG, a vibrant spot bustling with bars, discotheques and night bazaars: a perfect place for barhopping and shopping during wee hours - a tourist haven indeed!

The following day, we set off to PATTAYA which is about four hours by bus from Bangkok.The place is renowned for its beautiful beaches and nightlife.Hundreds of beer bars, restaurants and clubs line the busty streets brimming with activities.A bustling place synonymous with fun filled travel experiences.

Our next stop was The NONG NOOCH VILLAGE, one of the popular places in Pattaya to catch a glimpse of the elephant show.It was a spectacular show where a herd of elephants did some amazing tricks such as doing the hullahoop using their trunks, picking up the mahout's hats off the ground and so on. One of the elephants standing on its rear legs and playing with the skateboard really blew me away.It was truly entertaining.

Back in Bangkok on the last leg of the trip, we managed a couple of quick round tours through ROSE GARDEN and SIAM SQUARE, which offered something to explore around every corner.Suddenly, a pang of sadness went through me as my four-day trip was drawing to a close.I was not keen on leaving such lovely place.I made a promise to myself that I would come back to THAILAND to explore more of its beauty...

10 Hottest Female International Celebrities

2012-03-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

If FHM has its top 10 sexiest female celebrities , well this blogsite has its own too:) Find out who made it to the list of 10 hottest female celebrities.

Megan Fox

Jessica Alba

Mila Kunis

Halle Berry

Eva Mendez

Monica Belluci

Scarlet Johansson

Salma Hayek

Natalie Portman

Angelina Jolie

Futile Hope

2012-03-16T14:31:00.000-07:00

The image of you lusters so strong that it hurts my eyes..Even in your absence, your overwhelming presence is still felt .. As omnipresent as you are, you surround me with warmth and comfort..

Every word you utter is resonating in my soul ....like every drop of healing water, it has a therapeutic effect on me..

Your wisdom is so great that it rubs off easily. What a great weapon to overpower me!!..My Hands up to you!!!

I am fully aware that I do not measure up to your standards and expectations ; nonetheless, I fervently hope that in one way or another you are STILL able to see my worth...

the GAP between us is unbelievably wide that it seems impossible to bridge it...Day in and day out, I´ve been wrestling with my inner voice that keeps telling me `´IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE´´

As it is now, everything is in the furnace of doubt.. Neither of us dares to save it.. Once the fuel is added to the fire , it will continue to burn up in a blazing fireball of uncertainty...

Titanic is back...

2012-03-15T15:48:00.001-07:00

In 1997, TITANIC took the world by storm and generated a gross of 1.8 billion dollars,making it the highest grossing film of all time. Owing to its plot, special effects, sountrack, cinematography as well as its powerhouse cast, the film garnered postive reviews from movie critics. Best words to describe this blockbuster hit: meticulous in detail, yet vast in scope and intent. ...

Being a sucker for romantic films, I was one of those people who watched it more than thrice in the cinema. It was so beautifully done and romantically captivating that I couldn´t get enough of it. And guess what?? After more than a decade, this romantic saga is coming back to theatres, but this time it will be released in 3D as James Cameron promised two years ago . I´m certain that it´s gonna be more spectacular than ever and there´s no way that I will pass up the opportunity to see my all time fave in 3D.

Upcoming Hollywood Films ( 2012)

2012-03-10T16:17:00.002-08:00

Would you like to find out which hollywood films are coming soon to theatres near you??...So, look no further ! I have compiled a list of movie trailers that you might find interesting...Sit back , relax and enjoy watching!!

What do you think about the new movies ? Would you watch one? Kindly share your thoughts using the below comments section.