TERE TEREBOL

Reality Bites # 5 | Dreams

2014-11-23T09:44:00.000+08:00

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥

Reality Bites #4 | Everyday...

2014-11-16T14:35:00.000+08:00

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ blogging

Reality Bites #3

2014-11-09T14:33:00.000+08:00

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ blogging

Reality Bites #2 | Need to escape?

2014-11-02T14:30:00.000+08:00

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ blogging

HOT! HOT! HOT! | Kate Daniels Series Book 8 Cover & Blurb

2014-10-25T14:11:00.000+08:00

MAGIC SHIFTS

by Ilona Andrews

Author's Website | Author on Goodreads

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Kate Daniels Series - Book 8 | Goodreads

Expected publication: August 4, 2015

Read a deleted scene

Kate Daniel Series Complete Reading List

Blurb from Goodreads

In the latest Kate Daniels novel from #1 New York Timesbestselling author Ilona Andrews, magic is coming and going in waves in post-Shift Atlanta—and each crest leaves danger in its wake…

After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.

So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.

An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece…

Wow! I love this cover! I also like this Kate! I think this model is closer to how she was described in the books —or at least how I imagine Kate would look like. I like her looks. She doesn't look young. She looks like an ass-kicker and I think her looks are more appropriate for Kate's age than the model on the covers of Magic Rises and Magic Breaks. Curran is a little pale here though... And I am not sure about Sarrat... If I am correct, Slayer didn't have a guard... Hmm...

From Magic Burns

"Pretty sword," he said, twisting Slayer to catch a sun ray. The light danced on the opaque blade and sank into the black chain-mail shirt now showing below his jacket. "Why no guard?"

"Don't need one."

meet our cat Mini aka Mini Beast Lord (hehehe)

he is so sad because we will need to wait for a long time

for Magic Shifts (sigh)

Actually, this cover rocks! I think it will look awesome on shelves once it's released. I just finished reading Magic Breaks and I am suffering from a major Kate and Curran withdrawal. This is such a great news for me but after seeing the publication date...

Well, I guess I will just have to get a temporary fix with Magic Steals (Novella - Jim and Dali), which is to be released this coming November 5th.

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ great stories

Book Review | Secondhand Spirits

2014-09-25T04:24:00.000+08:00

SECONDHAND SPIRITS

by Juliet Blackwell

Author's Website | Author on Goodreads
Genre: Cozy Mystery | Urban Fantasy
Series: A Witchcraft Mystery Series - Book 1 | Goodreads
Read an excerpt here

From Goodreads

Lily Ivory is not your average witch. Her spell-casting powers tend to draw mischievous spirits while keeping normal humans at a distance. But now her vintage clothing store could give her a chance to make friends in San Francisco...

Lily hopes for a normal life when she opens Aunt Cora's Closet. With her magical knack for vintage fashion -she can sense vibrations of the past from clothing and jewelry—her store becomes a big hit.

But when a client is murdered and children start disappearing from the Bay Area, Lily may be the only one who can unravel the crime. She tries to keep her identity a secret while investigating, but it's not easy—especially under the spells of sexy "mythbuster" Max Carmichael and powerful witch Aidan Rhodes. Will Lily's witchy ways be forced out of the closet?

REVIEW

THIS BOOK GOES TO: MY AVERAGE NOOK

Adorable characters... I think there is more to this story in book 2...

Secondhand Spirits is a cute and light read. It has a bit of "darkness" but is also full of witchcraft, mystery and very unconventional characters. A good introduction to a promising series.

IT’S NOT OLD; IT’S VINTAGE!

Lily Ivory, the heroine and a powerful witch, is a very likable character. She traveled the world for years but decided to settle in The Haight in San Francisco, where she opened a vintage clothing shop called Aunt Cora's Closet. She's interesting and her drive to "belong", to set down roots and make friends in her new neighborhood made her very endearing. Definitely not your typical independent and kick-ass heroine. She is sweet, lonely, socially awkward and actually a little scared of her own powers —a fainthearted witch, adorable. Her background and the the extent of her powers and talents are yet to unfold —something to do with her father and her family, I just bet her secret will be pretty big and a little shocking once revealed.

Shape-shifting creatures and meddlesome witches aside, the quest for really cool old clothes must go on.

Secondhand Spirits is full of curious secondary characters. Lily's new familiar, Oscar the goblin/gargoyle/potbellied pig, is quite a riot —I love 'em quirky sidekicks. Lily also have a couple of intriguing men in her life, Max the "Mythbuster" and Aiden Rhodes the "Male Witch" —both seemed to be attracted to Lily but I don't think anyone of them is ideal for her, possible future headaches AND heartaches. Lily's new "girlfriends" and her new coven are also characters to watch out for.

“Then why are you following me?” I asked, clearing my throat in an attempt to recover my wits.
“Morbid fascination.”
“Just what I always wanted,” I said as I watched the elevator indicator numbers slowly light up. “To inspire men with ‘morbid’ fascination.”

Another likable part of this book is the story's setting —FYI: The Haight is an actual district in San Francisco. The neighborhood's atmosphere is both very refreshing and inviting to read because of its hippie, bohemian, and counterculture-rich shops and characters —just the perfect spot for a sweet but powerful witch who doesn't seem to fit anywhere.

Secondhand Spirits can be a enjoyable read but it can also be a bit disappointing. There are parts that are filled with so much detail —the magic, the witchcraft and the vintage fashion. There are also those that are severely lacking —the action, the ass-kicking part. This book is not for readers who prefer their stories action-packed and very stimulating. However, readers who like their stories real snug and cozy will unquestionably relish every page of Secondhand Spirits.

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ great stories

Drama Article | How do you watch your dramas?

2014-09-19T07:19:00.000+08:00

Watching dramas may not be everyone's thing, but to those of us who really, really enjoy and love it, it is a part of everyday life. We cannot not do it because we need it. It's like brushing our teeth before bedtime or using deo or eating chocolates or ice cream or —okay, enough examples.

I have been addicted to watching dramas for a while now —no hope for redemption in the near future, not that I am complaining, and have also been known —from time to time, to influence others into appreciating dramas just like I do. As I witnessed friends, co-workers and family members succumb to what I call the drama epidemic, I also saw many of them adopt a certain style when it comes to how they watch their drama of choice. Listed below are the very distinctive styles based on my observation.

Check which style of watching dramas you fall under and see if my list of symptoms are spot on.

THE MARATHON WATCHER

- SYMPTOMS -

Marathon Watchers will suffer through lengthy downloads or purchase DVD's or bookmark fast drama streaming websites just to watch all the episodes of their choice of drama/s. They will be immovable and will stay glued in front of their computer or TV while watching episode after episode in just one sitting. Marathon Watchers do not see the sun or surface from his or her "drama trance" until the last episode is over. They will most likely be sleep deprived, may also suffer from minor starvation and in extreme cases, poor hygiene —too much watching + less bathing = stinky drama fan. They often display minimal to severe irritation or even aggression when disturbed during a really good scene or part. They will have little or no care for anything else as the real world will not exist for them until the closing credits of the last episode is over. They also prefer the uninterrupted narrative of completed dramas and will try to avoid watching dramas that are ongoing.

THE DRAMA STALKER

- SYMPTOMS -

Drama Stalkers will watch drama after drama as long as their favorite actor or actress is in it. They may even watch a drama even if their idol only has a cameo role. They will also stroll the internet for any news, old and new, about their favorite actor or actress, like them on Facebook and follow them on most if not all social networking sites and even join their official fan club. Drama Stalkers may also watch the actor or actress' movies, music videos and devour any related information they can find on the internet. Severe symptoms may include posting photos, gifs, videos and other information about the actor or actress and their dramas online even after several months or even years have passed. They will watch their idol's drama/s over and over again and will still have the same reaction whenever they watch their favorite scenes each time. Most Drama Stalkers also purchase and own posters, stuffed animals and other memorabilia from the drama/s of their favorite actor or actress. They are very loyal to their beloved actor/s and actress/s and will not tolerate negative comments about them, their drama or anything related to their idol from others.

THE GENRE PROWLER

- SYMPTOMS -

Genre Prowlers will only watch dramas falling under a one particular genre or a combination of the top two on their drama genre list —example: Melodrama or Romance or Melodrama with Romance. They will stick to their genre/s of choice and will most likely not divert or venture into watching others as they will have a hard time appreciating them —unless perhaps forced at gunpoint. Some Genre Prowlers will even be very strict on their drama choices because they need the dramas that they will watch fit a certain criteria or have certain elements in them —example: pure or innocent but clumsy female leads, excellent OST, idol group members, monarchy, etc.

THE SCHEDULER

- SYMPTOMS -

Schedulers love watching currently airing or ongoing dramas. They will mark their calendars to remind themselves of the date when the next episode of the drama series that they are watching will be aired. They will also include notes regarding its expected date for upload on streaming websites or when will it be available for download. Some Schedulers may even go through every streaming website that they know to see if the episode that they are waiting for is already uploaded on date that they set on their calendars (very optimistic but not considerate). They can also be often observed to repeat earlier episodes just to satisfy their drama craving. Schedulers are also always on the look out for previews or sneak peeks on the next episode of the drama that they are watching. Some Schedulers have been know to comment on drama streaming websites demanding that they upload the next episode when in fact the episode in question is yet to be aired (perhaps they haven't heard of Google and it's usefulness when it comes to research).

Do you even understand what you're watching?

No, but it looks very sad...

THE INTERPRETER

- SYMPTOMS -

An Interpreter is someone quite similar to a scheduler because drama watchers that falls under both styles can very impatient when it comes to the upcoming episodes of the dramas that they are watching. Interpreters are very adventurous and hardcore because they watch dramas as soon as the most recent episode in the series is uploaded, regardless of the absence of subtitles —RAW episode uploads are just plain torture!. Some Interpreters may have some knowledge of the language spoken in the drama/s that they are watching. Most Interpreters also tend to have excellent reasoning and deduction skills because they will understand what they are watching even if it is in a foreign language. Interpreters also often go for dramas that are very popular, entertaining as well as those with great endings or cliffhangers in each episode —which makes them go stir-crazy with anticipation for the next one, expect an explosion of expletives or even tears to be involved...

hmm... fast forward... no, skip that... that too... okay here we go...

THE SKIPPER

- SYMPTOMS -

A Skipper will often skip or jump parts of a drama that he or she doesn't like or enjoy and will often only watch scenes that includes their favorite characters or actors. Skippers are never without their remote controls or their fingers on their mouse or touch pads. They are also known to be speedy critics because they know right away if a scene is worth watching or if it is unnecessary for their viewing pleasure. Excellent Skippers can cut their viewing time in half —or even more. Repeat watchers also often display symptoms under the skipper style because since they already watched the drama, they also skip most parts —except for their favorite scenes, of course.

Why am I even watching this?

THE ANTI-WATCHER

- SYMPTOMS -

Those who fall under this style will watch dramas mostly due to the curiosity or animosity that they have on the drama itself or on a certain actor and actress in the drama (anti-fan). The dramas that Anti-Watchers go for are those that are very popular or became so because of the idol/s that they dislike. Anti-Watchers watch these dramas so that they can later rant about them all they want. They create funny but sarcastic or trashing memes or gifs from scenes in the drama/s and then post them online. Another version of the Anti-Watcher are those that watch dramas that were highly criticized and received multiple negative reviews. They are drawn to these dramas because they become so fascinated that they need to personally find out why so many people share the same bad reaction or impression. They may not like it but they will finish watching.

Okay. So that's all the drama watching styles that I know. I didn't forget anything did I? How about you? How do you watch your dramas? I'm a solid Marathon Watcher —not the stinky kind, just in case you're wondering...

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ dramas

Book Review | Enchanted Inc.

2014-09-13T04:05:00.000+08:00

ENCHANTED INC.

by Shanna Swendson

Author's Website | Blog | Goodreads

Genre: Urban Fantasy | Chick Lit

Series: Enchanted Inc.Series Book 1 | Goodreads

Read an excerpt here

Blurb from Goodreads

DON'T MESS WITH HEXES

Katie Chandler had always heard that New York is a weird and wonderful place, but this small-town Texas gal had no idea how weird until she moved there. Everywhere she goes, she sees something worth gawking at and Katie is afraid she's a little too normal to make a splash in the big city. Working for an ogre of a boss doesn't help.

Then, seemingly out of the blue, Katie gets a job offer from Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., a company that tricks of the trade to the magic community. For MSI, Katie's ordinariness is an asset.

Lacking any bit of magic, she can easily spot a fake spell, catch hidden clauses in competitor's contracts, and detect magically disguised intruders. Suddenly, average Katie is very special indeed.

She quickly learns that office politics are even more complicated when your new boss is a real ogre, and you have a crush on the sexy, shy, ultra powerful head of the R&D department, who is so busy fighting an evil competitor threatening to sell black magic on the street that he seems barely to notice Katie. Now it's up to Katie to pull off the impossible: save the world and—hopefully—live happily ever after.

REVIEW

THIS BOOK GOES TO: MY AVERAGE NOOK

Hmm... Something is missing...
But I will give Book 2 a chance...

Enchanted Inc. is a very light read that is best enjoyed on a relaxing night after a long and busy day. It is like Sex in the City —without the "sex", Alias —without the espionage, FRIENDS —without the crazy, and Harry Potter —without Hogwarts and Dumbledor, all rolled into one. It's fun and a bit intriguing.

And now both my roommates were dating former frogs. My life is so weird.

I like it. I like Katie. I like the magic and MSI. There is just something missing for me to be truly enchanted by Enchanted Inc. I just can't pin point the exact reason why. I also think that the world building is pretty wispy with many loose ends. An good example of a loose end in the story will be the former frog "princes". —When and how did they end up cursed? What happened with their lives after they were rescued from a lifetime of eating insects (aside from dating Katie's roommates)? Do they work? How about the guy who seemed to have been cursed a few decades ago? Is his family still around?— And other similar questions. Well, I guess, it is just not as air-tight as I would have preferred.

"But if you kiss enough frogs, you’re bound to stumble upon a prince.”

.
Having said all that, I will still read the second book of this series, Once Upon Stilettos. I will give it a chance because I want to find out if Katie will work it out with a certain "heart breaker" wizard or with the "immune" lawyer. I also want to read more about the story's modern Merlin. —Will he learn the all about the internet? Will he sign-up on Facebook?

As I said, I was not enchanted but I'm a bit intrigued.

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ great stories

KDrama | The Three Musketeers (Season 1) 삼총사

2014-09-05T10:24:00.000+08:00

THE THREE MUSKETEERS

Korean Drama | 2014 | 12 Episodes

Action | Comedy | Fusion Saguek | Historical

The Three Musketeers is based on the famous novel of the same title written by Alexander Dumas. The events and characters of the novel, which was set in 17th century France, will be adopted and merged with the story and adventures of a young man named Park Dal Hyan (Jung Yong Hwa) and a group of three men that called themselves The Three Musketeers. The name was coined by the group's leader, who is actually Crown Prince So Hyeon (Lee Jin Wook), heir to the throne of the Joseon Dynasty during the reign of King Injo, while the other two of the trio were his guards, Heo Seung Po (Yang Dong Geun) and An Min Seo (Jung Ha In). Park Dal Hyang met them on his first night in Hanyang, the capital of the Joseon, where he will be taking the military service examination.

Not familiar with the novel? Want to read a quick summary?

Summary: The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas

(It's not boring, promise!)

tvN The Three Musketeers | Posters | Gallery

Official Facebook Page | YouTube Playlist

Where can you watch The Three Musketeers?

Dramacool | List of Other Websites

THE THREE MUSKETEERS TEASER

- MAIN CAST -

Jung Yong Hwa as Park Dal Hyang (based on d'Artagnan)

Lee Jin Wook as Crown Prince Sohyeon (based on Athos)

Yang Dong Geun as Heo Seung Po (based on Porthos)

Jung Ha In as Ahn Min Seo (based on Aramis)

Seo Hyun Jin as Kang Yoon Seo (based on Anne of Austria)

Yoo In Young as Jo Mi Ryeong (based on Milady de Winter)

- EXTENDED CAST -

Kim Myung Soo as King Injo (based on Louis XIII)

Park Yeong Gyu as Kim Ja Jeom (based on Cardinal Richelieu)

Jeon NovMin as Choi Myung Kil (based on de Tréville)

Lee Kyun as Pansoe (based on Planchet)

Kim Sung Min as Ingguldai / Yonggoldae (based on Duke of Buckingham)

Park Sung Min as Noh Soo (based on Comte de Rochefort)

Kim Seo Kyung as Ma Bu Dae

Jung Yoo Seok as Park Ji Won

Woo Hyeon as Dal Hyang's father

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ dramas

Book Review | A Questionable Client

2014-09-03T02:55:00.000+08:00

A QUESTIONABLE CLIENT

by Ilona Andrews

Author's Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Kate Daniels Series Book 0.5 | Goodreads

Details: included in the anthologyies Magic Graves | Goodreads

and Dark and Stormy Knights | Goodreads

Read the story on the author's website

Kate Daniels Series Complete Reading List

World of Kate Daniels

Blurb from Goodreads

In a world beset by magic waves, Kate Daniels works as a mercenary. She is tired, hungry, and there is foul-smelling blood on her boots. All she wants to do is to go home, but when Mercenary Guild offers her a job she can't refuse, she finds herself protecting a man against Russian wizards.

I am reading the books, short stories and novellas in the Kate Daniels Series —again— for this review as well as for my upcoming reviews for the rest. I'm a big fan and I just love LOVE this series, so don't be surprised if I may sound just a "little" bit biased in some of my assessments and comments. I promise to try to view them with fresh eyes for you.

REVIEW

THIS BOOK GOES TO: MY TOP SHELF

Wow! I want more of Kate!

Having just finished a gig, Kate is tired and smelly. Her boots stank because of the creatures that she had to deal with on her own (her part-time gig partner, Jim, bailed on her, pack business, typical...). She was assigned another gig. Bodyguard detail. Big pay. She doesn't want it but she had no choice but to take it. She needed the money.

The client is Saiman. He was chained to his bed when Kate arrived and she had to resort to threats to get him to talk about who's after him and why. Turns out, Saiman stole something from some powerful people. They want it back. They also want his head, ideally, separated from the rest of him.

“What happened?”
“You fell.”
“Really? What did I fall into?”
“My fist.”

Kate's "body" proved very difficult to guard as well as a self-absorbed major scumbag. At the end, everything did not work out perfectly for everyone, especially for Saiman (smirk). But hey, they survived and get to live and be a pervert (Saiman) and a loud-mouthed merc (Kate) for another day.

I really like how Kate's world was described in this short story.

The night belonged to monsters, and monsters were always hungry.

The events in A Questionable Client happened a few months before Magic Bites; before Kate's guardian was murdered, which prompted her move to Atlanta to investigate what happened —and kick the bad guy's ass— and the whole shebang that happened after that. This short story gives us a glimpse of Kate's life as a merc and how she met Saiman aka "the pervert". It is also a perfect example of how things always seem to get hairy real fast around Kate.

It can be quite confusing to start the whole series by reading this short story, so I suggest reading Magic Bites first and then going back to this one later.

We lived in a post-Shift world. One moment magic dominated, fueling spells and giving power to monsters and the next it vanished as abruptly as it appeared. Cars started, electricity flowed, and mages became easy prey to a punk with a gun. Nobody could predict when magic waves would come or how long they would last. That’s why I carried a sword. It always worked.

A Questionable Client is a real eye opener when it comes to the whole Kate-Saiman "friendship". It explains a lot about why Saiman is so hot for our favorite kick-ass heroine. In the story, Kate was her usual witty and sarcastic self. She matched Saiman intellectually and she doesn't hesitate to cut him down to the quick. I can understand why he wants her. She's confident, knows a lot about things that are magical, plus, she is really talented with her sword. It's sexy —no wonder a certain bossy lion is in love.

Saiman was a really slimy character in this story —for some reason, I still like his him though. He's was a totally unapologetic egoist. It made so much sense why it's very dangerous for Kate to be in his radar.

Overall, it's a great story. A prequel that is exciting, enlightening, full of magical folklore and a great addition to the series.

Enjoy reading!

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ great stories

Book Series | Kate Daniels Series Complete Reading List

2014-09-01T05:10:00.000+08:00

KATE DANIELS SERIES

by Ilona Andrews

click here to download this wallpaper

The Kate Daniels series is an urban fantasy written by Ilona Andrews, a pseudonym

for husband-and-wife super writing team, Gordon and Ilona Andrews.

Website | Blog | Goodreads
World of Kate Daniels | Kate Daniels Series in Goodreads

This series is an ultimate fave! I just ♥ Kate and Curran! Every time there is a new addition to the series, I first go back and read each book and novella before finally reading the latest release. I even have the audio books permanently saved on my smart phone. I just can't get enough!

To give you an idea as to what this series is all about, here's something from the author's website.

The world has suffered a magic apocalypse. We pushed the technological progress too far, and now magic returned with a vengeance. It comes in waves, without warning, and vanishes as suddenly as it appears. When magic is up, planes drop out of the sky, cars stall, electricity dies. When magic is down, guns work and spells fail.
It’s a volatile, screwed-up world. Magic feeds on technology, gnawing down on skyscrapers until most of them topple and fall, leaving only skeletal husks behind. Monsters prowl the ruined streets, werebears and werehyenas stalk their prey; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst of knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds.
In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But sometimes even trained killers make friends and fall in love, and when the universe tries to kick them in the face, they kick back.

POST UPDATE!

October 25, 2014

MAGIC SHIFTS (BOOK 8)

click here to read the blurb and other information

THE MAIN BOOKS OF THE SERIES

THE NOVELLAS OF THE SERIES

CURRAN POV | COMPANION SCENES

written by Gordon Andrews | Goodreads
download the collection here

COMPLETE READING LIST

MAIN BOOKS + NOVELLAS / ANTHOLOGIES + COMPANION SCENES

A QUESTIONABLE CLIENT

KATE DANIELS 0.5 | Goodreads

READ MY REVIEW

read it on the author's websit e

MAGIC BITES

KATE DANIELS 1 | Goodreads | read an excerpt

+ UNICORN LANE | FERNANDO'S

CURRAN POV COLLECTION | Goodreads | download

MAGIC BURNS

KATE DANIELS 2 | Goodreads | read an excerpt

+ SOUP (CURRAN POV COLLECTION)

MAGIC STRIKES

KATE DANIELS 3 | Goodreads | read an excerpt

+ MIDNIGHT GAMES | HOT TUB

+ KATE'S ORIGIN | NAKED DINNER

(CURRAN POV COLLECTION)

MAGIC MOURNS

Novella - Andrea & Raphael

Goodreads | read an excerpt

MAGIC BLEEDS

KATE DANIELS 4 | Goodreads | read an excerpt

+ CONCLAVE | AWAKE (CURRAN POV COLLECTION)

MAGIC DREAMS

Novella - Jim and Dali

Goodreads | read an excerpt

MAGIC SLAYS

KATE DANIELS 5 | Goodreads | read an excerpt

MAGIC TESTS

Novella - Julie | Goodreads | read an excerpt

MAGIC GIFTS

Novella - Kate and Curran | Goodreads

included in Gunmetal Magic

GUNMETAL MAGIC

Andrea's Story | Goodreads | read an excerpt

MAGIC RISES

KATE DANIELS 6

Goodreads | read an excerpt

+ AN ILL-ADVISED RESCUE

Deleted Scene from Magic Rises

Goodreads | included in Magic Rises

MAGIC BREAKS

KATE DANIELS 7 | Goodreads | read an excerpt

MAGIC STEALS

Novella - Jim and Dali | Release: Nov. 5, 2014

Goodreads | read an excer pt

MAGIC SHIFTS

KATE DANIELS 8 | Release: Aug. 4, 2015

Goodreads | read a deleted scene

ADDITIONAL STUFF FROM THE AUTHORS

Character Guide | Map of Post-Shift Atlanta | Free Ebooks

Kate on Twitter (super funny!)

Kate Daniels - Twitter 1 | Kate Daniels - Twitter 2

ENJOY READING BABY!

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ great stories

TDRAMA Review | The Fall of Fall In Love With Me

2014-08-20T05:10:00.000+08:00

FALL IN LOVE WITH ME
Taiwanese Drama | 2014 | 20 Episodes

Romance | Comedy | Family

I stumbled upon Fall In Love With Me after realizing that I haven't watched a Taiwanese drama for quite some time. I decided to do just that and wanted to go for something new, something different, because I have been watching a marathon of Korean period dramas. After reading some blurbs and watching a promotional video or two, Fall In Love With Me looked very promising. Boy, was I in for a surprise...

CAST & ACTING
WHO TO LOVE (& HATE) IN FALL IN LOVE WITH ME

AARON YAN
Lu Tian Xing
handsome, brilliant but blunt and quite rude
Xiao Lu
sweet, gentle and easy to love

Aaron Yan did an amazing job in this drama. His portrayal of both Lu Tian Xing and Xiao Lu really impressed me. The difference between his two egos made a lot of impact. As Lu Tian Xing, he was arrogant, calculating, superior and difficult. He transforms into someone that is delightful, modest and easy going when he is in his other role as Xiao Lu.

Another fact that I like about Aaron Yan here is that he seemed genuinely into his characters. It looked really easy for him, Natural and not awkward. I seldom see this in other actors. Most of them will take an episode or two before they completely adjust to their roles and co-stars. Aaron Yan looked comfortable and at ease. Also, there is this something that you can observe by watching an actor's eyes. Sometimes, if you watch them real close, you will see them thinking of their next line or action even as they deliver their dialogues. Yes, they can still be really, really good but there is just that touch of it all being technical and slightly forced. This is not the case with Aaron Yan in this drama. And for that, I give him a two thumbs up.

Note: I just hope that Aaron Yan will be more careful in choosing his next drama. He did a great job here and I think he made great efforts to salvage the whole thing towards the end but there was just no saving it because of the bad writing.

TIA LI

Tao Le Si

hardworking, persevering and selfless

I am so very sorry to say this (better skip this part if you are a Tia Li fan) but watching Tia Li's acting skills along side Aaron Yan's was just... It was just so inferior. She was mediocre at best but mostly stiff or blank and emotionless. (I did just say blank, didn't I? How can you call it acting when the impression that you gave off was blank?) There was hardly any variation in her expressions. She looked the same when she was happy, in love, shocked, insulted and still had the same expression on even when she nearly died! She also fades into the background in some scenes, which shouldn't have happened as she was the female lead. It made her co-stars look like they were going overboard. Her character was already unimpressive, pedestrian and passive, but her portrayal made it borderline pathetic.

I also personally think that there was very little chemistry between her and Aaron Yan. Their love team just didn't work out for me. Again, I must apologize because I really think she was a bad choice as this drama's female lead.

BEATRICE FANG

Li Huan Huan

cute... devious... crazy...

Oh. She. Was. Good. Li Huan Huan was just awful. She was slightly deranged and one would really hate her after what she did and what she became just to get between Lu Tian Xing and Tao Le Si. I really liked how Beatrice Fang portrayed Li Huan Huan. Like an onion with many layers, Li Huan Huan went from cute and mostly annoying to pitiful to devious and plotting to crazyville. Beatrice Fang nailed her character and some more.

CHEN BO ZHENG
Butler Fu | Uncle Bo
loyal, caring and all around wing-man

Butler Fu or Uncle Bo is one of my favorite characters in this drama. In fact, his scenes with Lu Tian Xing were some of the most memorable. He was like Lu Tian Xing's very own Alfred from Batman. It was such a shame that his role became less important and his scenes very few and far in between during the last 5 to 7 episodes.

STORY & WRITING

THE FALL OF FALL IN LOVE WITH ME

It was heartbreaking and sad. And I am not talking about what happened in the story. I am referring to how the writers butchered the show. Fall In Love With Me started out really well because the progress of the story and the romance was exciting and the mix of characters were quite entertaining. And then... Everything just fell apart. This happened right around the 13th episode. Some might like Fall In Love With Me as a whole, but to me, it was a train wreck from that point on and it was a struggle to continue watching until the end.

Let me start from the beginning...

"I decided to take a break from advertising for three months."

Lu Tian Xing (Aaron Yan) is a handsome and brilliant CEO of an advertising giant. He wanted to take some time off from work to find his passion for making commercials and ad campaigns again. He felt this way because what he wanted to work on were inspirational and unforgettable commercials while people around him were more focused on making money. He announced his decision publicly, bailed and went as far as to disguise himself to shake his own people off because they kept chasing after him to try and change his mind.

"My name is Xiao Lu. Xiao Lu as in little deer."

After his escape, Lu Tian Xing bumped into Tao Le Si (Tia Li) and her people from OZ Advertising. They were filming a small-time ad and they mistook him as one of their temp workers. Lu Tian Xing introduced himself as Xiao Lu. Since he was able to maintain his cover, Lu Tian Xing joined them as they work and realized that he enjoyed the easy and family-like environment around the people from OZ.

Lu Tian Xing later learned that Tao Le Si she is the sister of an ad director that inspired him into advertising when he was younger. This man also died while saving him in an accident. Tao Le Si is now managing her brother's sinking company, OZ Advertising. Lu Tian Xing decided to help her and OZ because of everything that her brother did for him in the past.

"Xiao Lu, meet everyone here at OZ."

As Xiao Lu, Lu Tian Xing joined OZ Advertising as a freelancer. He gave them great ideas for their ad campaigns and helped them win new projects. Sometimes, he even have to let his real identity come to their aid. And the more time Lu Tian Xing, as Xiao Lu, spent with To Le Si...

The more he realized that he was falling in love with her...

But Tao Le Si only has feelings for Xiao Lu...

That was good, right? At this point, everything was going really well. I kept anticipating what will happen next. How will he make her fall in love with the real him? Will his secret be exposed or will he confess? Is Tao Le Si going to forgive him? What will happen to OZ?

It was very amusing to watch the little things that happened as they worked and spent time together. It made it all so entertaining. I also liked the relationship arc between the main leads, especially since it became a complicated love triangle between a man with two identities and the woman he loves. It was funny, silly and refreshing.

The other relationships surrounding the couple also added a lot to the story. I already meantioned Lu Tian Xing's butler and wing man, Butler Fu. The characters from the OZ crew and their side stories were also cute, though a little immature and childish. Tao Le Si's family was also very entertaining.

So, what made this drama go from "Ooh, that's nice..." to "Argh! I can't watch anymore of this @#%*!"? What, in my opinion, went wrong?

Well, as I said, the writers did a very bad job on the second half of story. It was like they were out to ruin it for everyone. Some parts were so confusing and surreal that it almost gave me a permanent crease between my eyebrows. More careful thinking should also have been involved when they were writing their characters.

Allow me to enumerate my reasons...

* There was hardly any character growth for the female lead.
→ She was helpless and unimpressive at the beginning and remained so until the very end. She just stood by as everything happened around her. Not. Good.

* I think a lot of people were childish in this story.
→ Considering that most of them worked in the advertising industry... I was expecting people to be a little more cutthroat and professional. Or at least not act like hormonal teenagers. Yes, it is a romantic-comedy and many of their antics were cute and amusing, but there has to be a limit somehow or at least a difference when faced with important decisions.

* Everyone was just plain helpless.
→ They were just oh so very irritatingly understanding! Martyrs all of them! The good guys did not win over the bad guys here. They made very little effort and then waited on the sidelines until the bad guys realized their faults and gave everyone their happy ending.

* Badly written characters galore!
→ It was painful to watch most of the antagonists in the story. They made one of them cry in the rain! A full grown man was crying in the rain because his mama doesn't love him enough! And then he ran away... Need I say more?

* The plot explosion.
→ The plot was twisted and bent and never got straightened out again. The focus of the story shifted and the characters made a lot of unbelievable and irritating decisions. There were parts that will make one go mad because they were so illogical and unreasonable! A whole load of unnecessary things just kept happening. Were they added to make it longer? Or, perhaps, the writers believed that it will be more interesting that way? I just don't know.

So there. Sorry if that was a bit harsh and brutal. I am not a premier or expert critic but I really think that they just made a big, big mess out of it all after the big reveal. There was no saving it and I was so glad my suffering was over after the final scene. It was ruined, anticlimactic, and again, sad and disappointing.

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ dramas

TDrama OST | Fall In Love With Me

2014-08-18T06:39:00.000+08:00

LISTEN TO SONGS FROM

FALL IN LOVE WITH ME

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ dramas

TDrama | Fall In Love With Me 爱上两个我

2014-07-30T16:34:00.000+08:00

FALL IN LOVE WITH ME

Taiwanese Drama | 2014 | 20 Episodes

Romance | Comedy | Family

Lu Tian Xing (Aaron Yan) is a handsome and brilliant but arrogant Advertising CEO. He decided to take a hiatus from his career to find meaning and inspiration in his work once more. He accidentally bumped into Tao Le Si (Tia Li), the sister of an Advertising Director that he met when he was young and who inspired him into liking advertising but died while saving him during a car accident.

After finding out that Tao Le Si is managing her dead brother's struggling company, OZ Advertising, Lu Tian Xing decided to help. To do this, he had to assume an alter ego, the kind and gentle Xiao Lu, because Tao Le Si thinks that he is after her brother's company and really hates him. As Xiao Lu, he joined the company as a freelancer and helped them work and succeed on their advertising projects. As they work together, Lu Tian Xing found himself falling in love with Tao Le Si while she has feelings for his other self, Xiao Lu.

Can he make her fall in love with the real him? Can she accept that Lu Tian Xing and Xiao Lu are one and the same? Will he be able to convince her that his feelings and intentions are real and good, in spite of the lies and deceit?

iSET Fall In Love With Me | Official Facebook Page

Read The Drama Fiend's Review

Music from Fall In Love With Me

Where can you watch Fall In Love With Me?
Viki | Dramacool | Other Websites List

FALL IN LOVE WITH ME TEASER

- Main Cast -

Aaron Yan as Lu Tian Xing / Xiao Lu

Tia Li as Tao Le Si

Beatrice Fang as Li Huan Huan

Jack Li as Weng Li Yang (Leo)

- Extended Cast -

-Katherine Wang as Xu Miao Miao

Chen Bo Zheng as Uncle Bo

Jian Chang as Tao De Li

Xie Qiong Nuan as Hong Xiu Luan

Lin Ke Tong as Cao Hai Lun

Kao Ying Hsuan as Li Qi Xuan (Lance)

Huang Huai Chen as Wang Ting Wei

Evan Yo as Tao Le Yuan

Yang Ming Wei as Jia Gai Xian

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ dramas

KDrama | One Well-Raised Daughter 잘 키운 딸 하나

2014-06-20T01:07:00.000+08:00

ONE WELL-RAISED DAUGHTER

(A Well-Raised Daughter)

Korean Drama | 2013 | 122 Episodes

Romance | Family | Gender Bending

The Jang family has been in the soy sauce business for many centuries. They own Hwangso Soy Sauce Factory and are very big on tradition, one of which is passing the ownership and leadership of the business to the eldest son of the family. Unfortunately, the patriarch's son's wife, Joo Hyo Sun, had a miscarriage while pregnant with a baby boy. She and her husband already have three daughters and no hope for a son after the what happened.

Hyo Sun's friend, Im Chung Ran, took advantage of the situation by seducing her Hyo Sun's husband, who later met a tragic accident and died. She came back after giving birth to a boy, Jang Ra Gong, and claimed that he is the rightful heir to family business. Because she gave the Jang family a son, an heir, she was able to force her way into the Jang household, kick Hyo Sun and her daughters out of the house and move her family in. She and her family took advantage of their improved social and financial status every chance they got.

Hyo Sun found out that she is miraculously pregnant again, the baby conceived before her husband died. She considers her pregnancy as a gift and a blessing though life became very hard for her and her daughters. She gave birth to another girl and named her Jang Ha Na.

Years passed and Hyo Sun continued to struggle to provide for her children by working multiple jobs at a time. But her health suffered and she eventually got sick. She was forced to send two of her daughters with her aunt to the US. Ha Na, who is now eight years old, very intelligent and responsible, and her eldest and mentally challenged daughter, Jang Ha Myung, stayed with her. Desperate to give her two daughters a good home and education, Hyo Sun cut Ha Na's hair, dressed her as a boy and told her that she and her sister are going back to their paternal grandfather's home and live there. To do this however, Ha Na will have to become Jang Eun Sung, the second son of the Jang family.

Can Eun Song ever go back to being Ha Na?

SBS HaNa | Gallery

Where can you watch One Well-Raised Daughter?

Dramacool | Other Websites List

ONE WELL-RAISED DAUGHTER PREVIEW

- Main Cast -

Park Han Byul as Jang Ha Na / Jang Eun Sung

Lee Tae Gon as Han Yoon Chan

Jung Eun Woo as Sul Do Hyun

Yoon Se In as Gu Ra Hee

- Extended Cast -

Kim Joo Young as Jang Ra Gong

Yoon Yoo Sun as Joo Hyo Sun (Ha Na's mother)

Ha Jae Sook as Jang Ha Myung (Ha Na's sister)

Park In Hwan as Jang Pan Ro (Ha Na's grandfather)

Lee Hye Sook as Im Chung Ran (Ra Gong's mother)

Kim Ji Young as Byun Jong Soon (Ra Gong's grandmother)

Choi Jae Sung as Sul Jin Mook (Yoon Chan & Do Hyun's father)

Han Yoo Yi as Sul Do Eun (Do Hyun's sister)

Jang Da Na as young Ha Na / Eun Sung

Jang Min Kyo as young Ra Gong

Jo Min Ah as young Ra Hee

Kim Min Young as young Ha Myung

Lee Young Bum as Jang Min Suk (Ha Na's father)

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ dramas

TDRAMA | Pleasantly Surprised 喜歡. 一個人

2014-06-01T07:59:00.000+08:00

PLEASANTLY SURPRISED

(Love Myself Or You?)

Taiwanese Drama | 2014 | 24 Episodes

Romance | Food & Cooking

Du Kai Qi (Kuo Puff) is an independent, single woman who likes being alone and prefers reading comics than spending time with other people. The only other thing that she loves to do aside from reading her manga is her job as a chef at Figaro Cuisine, a fine-dining French restaurant.

Fu Zi Jie (Jasper Liu) is the second son of the rich family that owns Figaro Cuisine. He just came home from France and he is also a very talented chef. Since his parents wants him to stay in Taiwan, they convinced him to work at Figaro Cuisine. He reluctantly agreed to stay and work for a month at the restaurant, but he wants to keep his identity secret and will only work as a lowly intern.

After starting his work at Figaro Cuisine, Zi Jie found out that he knew Kai Qi when they were younger. It saddened him to see that she is now very different from the Kai Qi from his childhood because she no longer smiles and has a very cold and unfriendly personality.

Will Zi Jie be able to convince Kai Qi to open up to people and be more friendly within a month?

iSET Pleasantly Suprised | Official Facebook Page | Soompi Discussion Thread

Where to watch Pleasantly Surprised?

Viki | Dramacool | List of Other Websites

PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TEASER

- Cast -

Puff Guo as Du Kai Qi

Jasper Liu as Fu Zi Jie

Lene Lai as Cheng Le Xuan

Jian Hong Lin as Cheng Hao Wei

Lee Shiau Shiang as Ji Yong Qian

Ba Yu as Lin Bao Zhu

Zhang Fu Jian

Mei Xian Zhi

TEREBOL | i ♥ dramas

TDRAMA | Just You 就是要你愛上我

2013-12-15T01:26:00.000+08:00

JUST YOU

Taiwanese Drama | 2013 | 21 Episodes

Romance | Comedy | Family

Cheng Liang Liang is friendly, bubbly and pretty. She is also a bit naive and accident prone. She's renting a nice house that took her a long time to find and lives there with her goldfish, Shan Shan. She loves the house, her work, her family, her goldfish and her friends. She's really happy with her life. Plus, he friend Kate is getting engaged with their co-worker, Alex. All is happy-happy in this pink elephant's world... Until the house was foreclosed three months into her six-month contract and was immediately bought off the market by a stinky lion.

Qi Yi is handsome, intelligent and hard working. He also suffers from OCD and is a perfectionist. He is very glad to be back home. After becoming successful, he was able to buy a company, which he plans to lead into growth and expansion. Just like a lion, once he sets his path or decides on something, he never changes his mind. He was also able to buy back his old family home. He just hopes that his family will be complete again. Everything is going according to plan… Until he walks into his childhood home and found a pink elephant.

Liang Liang decided that she will not move out because she has the right to stay and live there for another three months, no matter what the new owner says. Unfortunately for her, her landlord also happens to be her new boss. He also ruined her friend Kate's engagement by banning romance and dating in office as soon as he came in on his first day at work. Determined to get even and to have the office romance ban lifted, she sets of on a hunting mission... To make the stinky lion fall in love with the pink elephant.

Will Qi Yi fall for her trap?

JUST YOU OPENING CREDITS

- Main Cast -

Aaron Yan as Qi Yi

Puff Kuo as Cheng Liang Liang

Dean Fujioka as Dean

Lyla Lin as Ding Jia Yu

- Extended Cast -

Katherine Wang as Kate Liang

Tang Zhen-Gang as Alex

Rim Lin as Ou Lai En

Zeng Yun Rou as Meimei

Ke Ya Xin as Shi Cui Xia

Xie Qi Wen as Li Han Po

Shen Meng Sheng as Qi Yi's father

Xie Qiong Nuan as Qi Yi's mother

Wang Dao An as Cheng Shou An

Yang Li Yin as Liao Tian Feng

Ashi Lin as Princess

Sun Peng as Ba Si

Chang Han as Jerry

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ dramas

Tavel Guide | Fortune Island, Nasugbu, Batangas

2013-12-07T18:00:00.000+08:00

I'm moving

I'm coming

Can you hear, what I hear

It's calling you my dear

Out of reach

(Take me to my beach)

I can hear it, calling you

I'm coming not drowning

Swimming closer to you

- Pure Shores by All Saints -

***

FORTUNE ISLAND

Fortune Island was once a luxury island resort, but now it is now just an abandoned island with a few crumbling structures. However, this does not diminish the natural beauty that the island offers. In fact, one of these structures, called the Acropolis from the Acropolis of Athens, is the island's current main attraction. Fortune Island's Acropolis stands on a rocky cliff that juts out into the water. Many visit the island to take photos by this crumbling structure that is an imitation of the famous ancient citadel in Greece.

Fortune Island's Acropolis

The island is located about 15 kilometers off the coast of Nasugbu, Batangas. The best way to experience the island is to camp there overnight but many just visit it for a day-trip. The best time to visit is between the months of February and May because the waters to cross by boat will be calmer.

***

HOW TO GET THERE

1. Bus from Manila to Nasugbu, Batangas

Go to the Coastal Mall's Provincial Bus Terminal in Parañaque City. There are several bus lines there, both ordinary and air-conditioned buses, that travels to Calatagan, Batangas. Make sure to ask the driver if they can drop you off at the Nasugbu Town proper.

Travel Time: 2 - 3 hours or less (depending on how heavy the traffic is)

Bus Fare: Php 130.00 (ordinary bus)

Best Time to Travel: The earlier the better because there is less traffic and crossing the water to the island is safer in the morning.

Note:

- There are other bus terminals (Cubao and Buendia) with buses that travels to Batangas.If the Coastal Mall Provincial Bus Terminal is inconvenient because it is too far, it is best to check if these terminals have buses that can drop you off in Nasugbu.

- Another option is to check where to get passenger vans that travels to Batangas.

- Additional shopping can be done in Nasugbu, especially for supplies like meat, vegetables and coal for grilling.

2. Tricycle to the coast of Nasugbu, Batangas

Travel Time: 10 to 20 minutes

3. Boat Ride to Fortune Island

The waves can be treacherous and as mentioned, it is best to visit the island between the months of February and May. The price of renting a boat depends on your length of stay on the island. The boats can usually carry up to 10 passengers.

Travel Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour (more if the waves are big)
Day-trip: more or less Php 4,000.00
Overnight: more or less Php 6,000.00

Boat Rental Options

Option 1 | Contact Person: Mang Dante (0939.489.5292)
Option 2 | Contact Person: Chris (0908.722.5628)
Option 3

This option is not verified if true and possible but according to a source, upon reaching Nasugbu, you can ask your tricycle driver to take you to Wawa, the port or the coast near where the Coast Guard is stationed and that there are boats there that can be rented to Fortune Island and their prices can be considerably lower.

Note:
- It is best to negotiate with your contact person regarding the cost of renting a boat but another way to minimize the cost is to travel in a large group (8-10 persons).

***

ACCOMMODATIONS, AMENITIES & ACTIVITIES

Fortune Island Landing Fee / Permit
Day-trip: more or less Php 350.00 per person
Overnight: more or less Php 400.00 per person

If you are planning to stay overnight on Fortune Island, your only option is to bring tents and to set up camp for you and your group. There are still a few upright structures on Fortune Island, however, most are boarded up while others can be used as "camp central" for cooking and evening socials.

The island has a stay-in caretaker, Kuya Loret (0928.453.8821). He can be asked if it is possible to use the bathing facilities in his cabin. However, since fresh water is limited on the island, it is possible that he may not be able accommodate a large group of people.

* Front-Right: a small monument with human bones inside

- According to Kuya Loret (the island's current caretaker) the bones belong to a woman and her remains were found during the construction of the island's resort grounds and buildings. He also said that the ghost of this woman used to roam the island at night (ooh... scary...).

- The marble plaque mentions a dedication to Former President Fidel Ramos and First Lady Amelita Ramos who were guests of honor of the Levistes on the island.

* Back-Left: a replica of a ship which was once Fortune Island's restaurant

Since the luxury resort on Fortune Island was abandoned for more than half a decade, there is no visible maintenance and trash can be seen along the beach. This made everything look so sad and forlorn. So, if you are visiting the island, make sure to be responsible not add to the trash.

Sunrise

***

ACTIVITIES

Day and Night Swimming * Snorkeling * Sun Bathing * Scuba Diving * Skim boarding

Camping * Beach Bonfire and Socials * Stargazing

Sunset and Scenery Pictorials * Pictorials by the Acropolis

Diving

There are about 20 diving spots near and around the island. Many divers flock this area of Batangas because of these underwater "parks" as well as to visit some of the sunken vessels located there. Currently, Fortune Island is "leased" to some Koreans who regularly drops by the island after their diving activities.

Photo Ops

Aside from the photographic opportunities offered by Fortune Island's Acropolis, the sunset is also best viewed and photographed from this location. The island also offers a great view of the lights coming from Nasugbu at night.

Almost Sunset (unfortunately cloudy, taken from Fortune Island's Acropolis)

Wildlife

There are some wildlife that live and visit the island. The island is often visited by sea turtles (pawikan) that lay their eggs along it's beach. Also, a couple of big birds of prey (Philippine eagles or monkey eating eagles, according to a source) can be seen flying around the island.

DO NOT FORGET TO BRING

travel wear * swim wear * sleep wear * underwear * foot wear

flashlights and lamps * sunblock * towel / sarong / malong * food * lots of water

snacks and booze * trash bags * portable stove and fuel * charcoal for grilling * ice chest

camera and other photo gear * goggles and snorkeling gear * shades * hat or sports cap

toiletries * your basic meds (eg. allergy and asthma medication)

first aid kit * cooking and eating utensils

THANK YOU!

Marvin and Joni

for all the photos and the memories

Mang Dante, Kuya Dan-dan & company

for assisting us during our boat ride to and from Fortune Island

Kuya Loret

for the stories and accommodating us during our stay

Planning a trip? Well, I am sure you will have a great time. Just remember to stay safe and don't forget to your Fortune Island experience with me!

DISCLAIMER: While every reasonable effort is made to ensure that all information in this post is accurate, he author will not be liable for any injury or liability resulting from the use of any information in this post.

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ backpacking

Food | Dakot (re-Mix ni Tere B)

2013-05-31T05:40:00.000+08:00

This is not a recipe! No cooking!

It's a mix (or a re-mix in this case). I first tasted a similar mix as an office snack in a previous job. I took note of what's in it and this is my recipe re-mix. I call it "Dakot" (translation: handful) because my brothers likes it so much that he eats it by the handful (as a midnight snack).

This is what happened when I first mixed "Dakot" at our apartment and made my brother taste it.

Kuya Aaron: "Ate, ano kinakain mo?" (Older sister, what are you eating?)
Ate Tere: "Tikman mo, masarap." (Taste it, it's good.)
Kuya Aaron (while looking at it skeptically): "May pasas?" (With raisins?)
Ate Tere: "Kainin mo na lang..." (Just eat it...)

About an hour later...

Ate Tere: "Kuya masarap ba?" (Older brother does it taste good?)
Kuya Aaron (speaks with food in his mouth): "Orgh orgh, masharaph." (Yes, it's good.)
Ate Tere (walks over to his makeshift computer station): "Ano sabi mo?" (What did you say?)

Then I stared at the almost empty bag of the re-mix... And then at my brother who smiled innocently with cereal bits around his mouth... He ate everything...

FYI: I am the eldest. I just like calling our youngest, Aaron, kuya (older brother).

TRAIL FOOD

This mix can also replace your trail food staples like energy bars, biscuits, chocolate bars and chips. I made my friend Israel try it out and bring it as his trail food on his first major climb and he said that he and his companions enjoyed it a lot.

WHAT'S IN IT & HOW TO PREPARE

1. Cereal (1 box, 240 grams)

→ You can use your favorite cereal. I suggest whole grain flakes, especially if you are planning to eat it during a climb. My personal favorite is Nestle's Fitnesse Clusters (Almonds, Honey and Almonds or Banana Nut).
→ good source of fiber, B vitamins and iron

2. Candy Coated Chocolates (40 grams)

→ Nips or M&Ms! Yum!

→ sugar and some antioxidants (not much in it but it makes the mix taste oh so yummy...)

3. Cashew Nuts - chopped (40 grams)
→ Other nuts will also do. Hazelnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts .. Peanuts... (FYI: Peanuts are legumes) Salted or plain, it doesn't matter.

→ soluble dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and numerous health-promoting phyto-chemicals

4. Raisins (100 grams)

→ sugar (fructose for instant energy), rich in antioxidants, vitamin K, C, E and vitamin B

Mix everything in a zip lock bag or a light-weight container and enjoy!

Note: The total cost will be about Php 200.00. Serves 4-6 people —but just 1 in my brother's case, apparently.

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ delicious grub

Photo Fun | Burot Beach

2013-05-27T06:00:00.003+08:00

My brother and I took a lot of photos in Burot Beach. I wasn't able to include most of them in my Travel Story or in my Travel Guide posts. Since I enjoy editing photos a lot, here are some of my work.

- PASTEL HUES -

- SEPIA -

- WILD COLORS -

- YELLOW & GOLD -

- BLACK & WHITE -

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ taking pictures

Food | Salsa ni Teresa

2013-05-22T06:31:00.000+08:00

I totally forgot how I discovered this easy-to-do recipe but ever since I started making this salsa, it has been a big hit among my friends. This is best served with nacho chips, grated or diced cheddar cheese.

INGREDIENTS

1. Tomatoes

2. Green Bell Peppers or Red Bell Peppers (I prefer green than red. Complimentary colors!)

3. Lemon Juice (substitutes: Kalamansi Juice or Vinegar)

3. Sugar

4. Ground Black Pepper

5. Chili / Chili powder (if you want it hot hot hot!)

DIRECTIONS

1. Dice tomatoes and green bell peppers and then place them in your serving bowl.

- Tomato seeds? Okay. Bell Pepper seeds? No, no!

- How many? Well, that depends on how many people are eating and which flavor you prefer to dominate. Estimate! I prefer mine a little sweet. A good ratio will be 6 to 8 regular-sized to 1 regular-sized bell pepper.

2. Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of Lemon Juice or its substitute. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of sugar. Add a pinch of Ground Black Pepper.

- Again, the taste will depend on your flavor preference but try to balance the sweet, spicy and sour flavors of the ingredients.

3. Mix and serve with grated or diced cheddar cheese and a bag of nachos. Enjoy!

HEALTH BENEFITS

Tomatoes

- Lycopene, well known and studied for its antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties.

- Eating tomatoes can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.

- Tomatoes are good source of fiber and Vitamin A, which is great for vision.

- Including tomatoes in your diet can help you manage diseases such as diabetes, urinary tract problems, obesity, eye disorders and disease, and even morning sickness.

Green Bell Peppers

- It has fiber that will help your digestive system, preventing constipation and eating food with lots of fiber can also help in reducing your risk of heart diseases and diabetes.

- It has Vitamins C and E as well as antioxidants that reduces free radical cell damage.

Black Pepper

- Aids your digestion and help prevent formation of intestinal gas.

- Black pepper contains minerals like potassium, calcium, zinc, manganese, iron, and magnesium, anti-oxidant vitamins as well as vitamin C and A.

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ delicious grub

Travel Guide | Burot Beach, Calatagan, Batangas

2013-05-09T14:29:00.000+08:00

When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come,

I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds,

cleanses me with its noise and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me

that is bewildered and confused.

- Rainer Maria Rilke -

If you are itching for some fun under the sun and is the type who can "rough it up", Burot Beach is the place to go.

***

BUROT BEACH

Located in the Calatagan Peninsula of the province of Batangas, this small piece of paradise is a must-visit for every beach camping enthusiast. I say this because according to some sources, Burot Beach has been purchased and that there are plans to close it to the public to develop it (probably a private resort).

Burot Beach is 3 to 4 hours away from Manila (depending on the traffic and your mode of transportation). If you plan to take a vehicle there, make sure that it can take rough roads because there is a short stretch of it before reaching the beach proper.

***

HOW TO GET THERE

OUR ROUTE

RED - Bus ride from the Bus Terminal near MRT Taft to Lian, Batangas

GREEN - 2nd Bus ride from Lian to Calatagan Public Market

BLUE - Tricycle ride from Calatagan Public Market to Burot Beach

1. Bus to Lian

Go to the Bus Terminal near McDonald’s Taft in front of Metroplitan Mall, MRT Taft station. Look for the BSC Bus with the sign board Tagaytay - Lian. Ask the driver and conductor to let you off in front of 7-Eleven in Lian.

Travel Time: 2 - 3 hours (depending on how heavy the traffic is)

Bus Fare: Php 152.00

Note:

- According to my online research before our trip, the BSC Bus travels directly to Calatagan and stops at its public market. However, when we arrived at the terminal, we learned there isn't a bus that travels directly to the Calatagan Public Market anymore (I discussed this in Burot Beach: Sunset, Sandbars and Shooting Stars).

- For enrolled students, bring you ID's as well as your registration forms. Take advantage of student discounts!

2. Bus to Calatagan Public Market

Ride an ordinary bus to Calatagan Public Market.

Travel Time: 30 - 45 minutes

Bus Fare: Php 30.00

Note:

- There are also PUJ's that can take you to Calatagan from Lian.

- Additional shopping can be done in the Clatagan Public Market. Meat, veggies, ingredients, fruits, chips, snacks and other food and cooking supplies are available but can be pricey.

- There are also eateries (Php 40.00 - Php 50.00 per meal) and bakeries in the market where you can fuel up upon arrival.

3. Tricycle to Burot Beach

Travel Time: 15-20 minutes

Tricycle Fare: Php 120.00 - 200.00 (Php 50.00 per person, up to 4 persons per tricycle)

Note:

- Haggle and negotiate with your tricycle driver over the cost. However, try to be considerate, especially if you brought a lot of things with you because the road to the beach is really rough and hard to navigate.

- Remember that you also need to get your driver's mobile number so that you can call or send an SMS message for the time when you want to be picked up for your return trip. You can also ask them if they can arrange your reservations for your transportation back to Manila (by bus or van).

- If you don't have a tent, try asking your tricycle driver if he can rent you one or if he knows someone who rents them out, you might get a better price like we did.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

TRICYCLE FOR HIRE

MERVIN - 0921.589.1719

friendly | accommodating | funny

He was our tricycle driver during our stay in Burot Beach and I promised him that I will advertise his contact info on my blog and here it is. He was a big help during our trip. He got us a more affordable tent-for-rent (only Php 200.00 for a dome-type that can house 3-4 people), took us to a house where we bought half a block of ice (Php 50.00) and even arranged our reservation for our trip back to Manila via a commuter van that will stop near the bus terminal in Pasay (MRT Taft).

***

ACCOMMODATIONS, AMENITIES & ACTIVITIES

our campsite (beneath the tree with a bamboo raft), it came with two swings,

an old raft for our sitting and lounging area and the tree's canopy for shade

- photo by Israel -

ENTRANCE FEE

Day Trip: Php 60.00 per person

Overnight Stay: Php 130.00 per person

There are no accommodations in Burot Beach. I strongly recommend that you bring your own tent. However, if you don't own or can't borrow one, you can contact Mang Ramon, the caretaker, and ask if you can rent one from them and how much it would cost (when I inquired via SMS, he said that the rental fee is Php 300.00). His mobile number is 0915.602.8907. Send him an SMS message to get an up-to-date list of fees.

Note:

- If you don't own a tent, consider buying one rather than renting. There are affordable tents sold in department stores. You can buy a dome-type tent that can house 3-4 people for less than Php 1,500.00 (got my dear old Wenzel for only Php 999.99 a few years back). This is way better than renting and it's a good investment, especially if you often go on beach camping trips.

There is a small store in Burot Beach but expect pricier goods and limited options. They also rent out tiki torches after nightfall (Php 70.00). There are also some vendors that roam the beach selling puto and ice drops.

Burot Beach offers very limited bathing and changing facilities. There are only a couple of them, one for each gender, which are just makeshift comfort rooms constructed into the two old and dilapidated buildings at the back of the camping area. If the beach has a lot of guests, you don't have any choice but to wait for your turn if there's a line. Also, please remember to knock before entering as the doors' lock are not that reliable or secure. Water is available day and night.

Unfortunately, Burot Beach is not well tended. Trash is all over the place, even in the water. This was quite disappointing and considering that they collected entrance fees, there should have been some maintenance and proper trash disposal. Having said this, try to be responsible and not throw your trash haphazardly or if possible, bring your trash home with you.

***

ACTIVITIES

Day and Night Swimming * Snorkeling * Sun Bathing * Sunset and Scenery Pictorials

Volleyball and other beach games * Stargazing * Relax and chill

Island hopping (a boater may approach and offer this to you)

WARNING & REMINDERS!

* There are many sea urchins in Burot Beach that are carried in and out by the tide. Be very careful while swimming and roaming the beach.

* I also saw some broken glass bottles carelessly discarded in some areas along the beach, so watch where you step.

* If you are bringing some speakers for your music, try to be considerate and turn the volume low, especially when your fellow campers are already asleep. This also applies while you are having your socials as well as when having conversations with your companions (yes, we know you are having fun but do you have to shout it out at around 2:00 in the morning?).

* As far as I know, there hasn't been any reports of theft in Burot Beach but remember to secure your valuables at all times.

* Mosquitoes will come out come nightfall, so bring an insect repellent or buy some citronella patches (effective!).

where's the cow?

***

DO NOT FORGET TO BRING

flashlights and lamps * sunblock * towel / sarong / malong * food * water * snacks and booze

trash bags * portable stove and fuel * charcoal for grilling * ice chest * camera

goggles and snorkeling gear * shades * hat or sports cap * soap and shampoo

your basic meds (eg. allergy and asthma medication) * first aid kit * cooking and eating utensils

(photo by Aaron)

***

HOW TO GET HOME

After having so much fun, it can be really hard to leave... I know... Here are your options for your return trip:

To Calatagan, Batangas

1. By Tricycle

Text or call your tricycle driver to discuss your time for pick up (same rates should apply). Again, use your haggling skills.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

TRICYCLE FOR HIRE

MERVIN - 0921.589.1719

friendly | accommodating | funny

2. By Boat

A local boater may approach you and offer to take you to the port where you can take a bus back to Manila.

Note:

- This was offered to us by the same local boater who took us "island hopping" (read about it here). This should not cost more than Php 50.00. I've said it before and I will say it again, haggle and negotiate!

- I am not so certain if the boater meant the Calatagan Port when he offered us the ride since we declined and asked Mervin, our tricycle driver, to take us back to the Calatagan Public Market, so ask this question and other particulars if you are considering this option.

To Manila

1. By Bus

Ride an air-conditioned bus to EDSA Taft from the Calatagan Public Market.

Bus Fare: Php 190.00 +

Last Trip: 4:00 pm

Note:

- There are also Ordinary / Non-AC Buses that travels to Manila from the Calatagan Public Market.

2. By Commuter Van

Ride a van to EDSA Taft from the Calatagan Public Market.

Van Fare: Php 180.00

Note:

- You may want to take the bus if you have a lot of stuff with you because the van will be pretty cramped and you may need to put your bags on your lap during the trip home.

- You may encounter some traffic as you pass Tagaytay City.

Enjoy your trip to Burot Beach and share your experience with me!

DISCLAIMER: While every reasonable effort is made to ensure that all information in this post is accurate, the author will not be liable for any injury or liability resulting from the use of any information in this post.

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ backpacking

Travel Story | Burot Beach - Sunset, Sandbars and Shooting Stars

2013-05-06T00:48:00.000+08:00

clear skies and calm waters

It all started with a phone call...

A couple of nights before this adventure, I was talking on the phone with my friend, Israel, when I casually mentioned my desire to go to Burot Beach. He immediately googled it and said that we should go after checking out some of the photos online. He was very relentless in persuading me (there was some pleading involved). I finally said yes (barring the tears that might eventually follow the pleading. hehehe).

And so there was two...

The next day, my brother and her girlfriend added me to their conversation on Facebook chat (they were arguing about my brother's crazy haircut). I casually mentioned the trip and all hell broke loose. Again with the pleading and then there was some drama...

To cut the story short, there were four of us who embarked on this adventure.

***

"For whatever we lose (like a you or a me),
It's always our self we find in the sea."
- E.E. Cummings -

Being the more experienced member of the group when it comes to camping and outdoors stuff, logistics was my responsibility. I researched and planned our trip, from how to get there to the things that we should bring and other details (thank God for the many travel bloggers out there who share their experiences online, they sure make research easy).

The only problem we had was that we only have one tent (my poor Wenzel and yes my tent has a name) and it can only house three persons at the most (sardines-style). Luckily, tents are available for rent at Burot Beach (see details in Travel Guide | Burot Beach, Calatagan, Batangas).

the old port

We traveled to the Bus Terminal near the MRT Taft Station around 3:30 am last Friday, hoping to catch the 4:00 am BSC bus to Calatagan, Batangas, only to arrive and find out that there isn't a trip that will take us directly to Calatagan. The bus driver and conductor explained to us that they were recently prohibited from traveling directly to Calatagan because of some political issues and that they might be allowed to do so again after the elections. They told us that we can get off at Lian, Batangas and that we can just ride a jeepney or bus to Calatagan. And so we loaded our things on the bus, shared two cups of hot Taho (I ♥ Taho!) while waiting, boarded and got comfortable (I mostly slept for the first 2 hours of our journey) as our bus left the terminal at 4:36 am.

After a two and a half hours on the road, the conductor informed us that we have arrived at Lian and that we can ride the ordinary bus behind us to Calatagan. Our second bus ride was not as comfortable but since it was still around 7:00 am, the wind from the open windows was quite refreshing and we were too excited to care about the bus being full or that we had to sit with our backpacks on our laps.

the view from our campsite

The ride to Calatagan Public Market took around 45 minutes. We still had a few supplies to buy and we were quite hungry, so we stretched our legs, shopped and ate breakfast before embarking on the last leg of our journey to Burot Beach, a 15 to 20 minute tricycle ride to the beach.

We arrived at Burot Beach around 9:00 am and we were greeted by a nearly deserted beach, clear skies, and peaceful waters. We were very lucky with the spot that we picked for our campsite because it was right in the middle of the shore, we were under a tree with a wide canopy that offered shade anytime of the day and we were beside a big old bamboo raft that we used as sitting and lounging area.

We enjoyed our stay in Burot Beach a lot. It was relatively quite in the area since we arrived there on a Friday morning but more and more campers arrived as the day progressed and more kept coming until the next day. I bet staying in Burot Beach during weekdays is like heaven, especially to those who love the quite and solitude.

***

THE SUNSET

taken from our campsite using my mobile phone at 6:13 pm

I saw some amazing photos of sunsets taken from the shores of Burot Beach while I was doing my research on the internet and was excited to witness it myself. My companions shared the same feeling and were already tinkering and setting up their DSLR's an hour before sunset. At around 6:00 pm, I stayed at our campsite to watch the sun slowly sink and disappear while my companions roam around to get better camera angles.

The view was so captivating. The skies changed into so many colors, from blue to pink to gold to an almost reddish hue. It was amazing!

***

PHOTO GALLERY

Here are some photos taken by my brother, Aaron and my friend, Israel.

PHOTOS BY AARON

PHOTOS BY ISRAEL

***

SHOOTING STARS

After having dinner, some booze and some card games, we decided to drag my big blue tarp near the water so that we could all lie down and watch the stars. It was such a clear and cloudless night that staring at the stars made me feel so insignificant compared to the wonder of what we were all looking at.

While we all just contentedly laid there staring at the vast night sky, we were all surprised when we saw several shooting stars. Israel mentioned this earlier that day, that there might be some sightings of shooting stars. I saw a shooting star before but it was my first time to witness a meteor shower. It was so amazing! I laid there, craning my neck left, right, up and down every so often so that I don't miss the sometimes brilliant streaks of light. I counted 20 very visible shooting stars in two hours (made a wishes every single time, yes I did!) and I think I saw more than 20 but they were farther and not as bright that I couldn't be sure if they weren't just my imagination. Sometimes, we would all see one shooting star at the same time and we would all shout and point to where we've seen it apear. It was so cool!

Note: I immediately researched about the meteor shower that we witnessed as soon as I was back in Manila. I found out that it was from the comet dust that smashes into Earth's atmosphere. This event is called Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower and it happens because our planet crosses the orbital path of Halley’s Comet. Read about it here.

Star Trail photo by ISRAEL

I wished upon a shooting star as I lay alone one night;

To send me someone wonderful who'd love me all my life,

Someone really special who would take me as his own;

Then that shooting star exploded, leaving me in darkness all alone.

I Wished Upon A Shooting Star

- Andrea Kennedy -

***

WALKING ON SAND BARS

The following morning, we were approached by a local boater who asked us if we wanted to go island hopping for less than Php 50.00. It turned out that the "island" is actually a shoal or long stretch of sand in the middle of the water (just a 10 minute boat ride away) beyond the right side of the Burot Beach. It was quite the experience because our ride left us in the middle of the shoal for like 20 minutes and we were stranded in its knee-deep waters. Unfortunately, there were no starfishes (or any other sea life for that matter) during our short exploration. We swam some and walked around a bit but we all decided to head back to Burot Beach as soon as the boater returned with other "island hoppers". We rode out around 10:00 am and it was really hot. According to "Kuya", our boatman, this stretch of sand is visible and dry when the tide is low and starfishes are often around when it isn't.

***

Overall, our Burot Beach adventure was so much fun and very memorable. I am planning to go back soon because given that it is but a few hours from Manila, Burot Beach is very accessible compared to other "beacheneering" sites that I've been to. Also, according to online sources, this beach is now privately owned and that it will soon be closed to vacationers and visitors, perhaps to develop it into a private resort. I will come back. I just hope that I will get to see another marvelous sunset and a shooting star or two on my return.

Planning to visit Burot Beach? Read my Travel Guide.

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ backpacking

Reality Bites #1 | Friends are like Park Benches

2013-04-22T16:32:00.000+08:00

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ blogging

Random Post | Should I post this image?

2013-04-20T23:59:00.000+08:00

Photo Credit: Obvious State

I was doing some research on the proper posting etiquette, particularly about posting photos online. I stumbled upon on this photo on a blog some time ago and I thought that this is a great guideline to follow for everyone who blogs, posts on social media sites, etc. The blog post said to share, so I did.

What do you do if you saw a picture online that you really, really like to post and unfortunately it isn't yours...

TERE TEREBOL | i ♥ blogging