Frustrated Sosyalera

Boo!

2011-12-28T15:16:00.000+08:00

Whoa, do I see cobwebs? If this site was a house, it would look like some abandoned shack in the middle of nowhere – dilapidated, unlived and unloved. What a pity. I didn’t mean get busy with actually living and forgetting to write about the stuff I get up to, it’s just sometimes I wonder what the point of it all is. Like, who cares where I’ve been and what hotels I’d booked myself in? What movies had I seen? Which new restaurants had I tried? What gifts had I given out? Would I ever recommend to anybody to make your own ringtones? (Ok, that last one was joke.)

I have had an amazing year. I feel so blessed to have been able to do the things I had done and it’s a pity that my 2011 is going to end in a fizzle. But never mind, 2012 promises to be a bit more exciting – and by exciting, I meant HARD WORK. I have had enough fun for one year, I think, and now I believe it’s time to get to the nitty gritty and work on my life plan (Honestly, I’m still working on that, so that’s also part of the hard work bit).

World's Shortest Train

2011-10-26T20:45:00.000+08:00

I know this is a poor excuse of a post, but a post is a post is a post! :P

Still Half-Blind

2011-08-10T09:37:00.000+08:00

I had a niggly feeling that my already poor eyesight is getting worse and that deciding to go to the optometrists over the weekend made me nervous. But as my eyeglass frame is already battered and very unpresentable, I've decided I should have my specs updated.

When the optometrist asked me to read the letters on the wall, they might as well have looked like this --

I can't read a thing!! Going for eye check-ups never fail to distress me.

The doctor tells me that my nearsightedness had gone down but my astigmatism had gone up a notch. I didn't know how to react -- should I be happy or disappointed? It seems like things are the same. Still, I'm thankful the readings aren't as bad as I thought they would be.

Sometimes, I feel like I want to see a lot of the world, read a lot of books and watch tons of films because I'm trying to cram everything in before I go completely blind. Right now, that is my worst fear. I'm not afraid that I may end up being a childless spinster or destitute, but losing my sight completely is what I feel would be the most tragic thing that could ever happen to me.

I may just be paranoid, but at least this fear is driving me to make the most out of my life.

Absinthe Salon, Sydney

2011-08-07T21:28:00.000+08:00

Note: The Australia trip happened a looooong time ago. Thankfully, though, this is the last post about it -- now I can start with the Euro ones soon! Yeah, I'm not a very effective real-time travel blogger. Things will always be ultra-retrospective here.

In this last installment, I'm going to tell you about absinthe. Before coming to Sydney, all I ever knew about it is that it's a kind of alcohol and that a club (now closed) in Makati was named after it. All my previous knowledge of absinthe came from this scene from the Jude Law version of the movie Alfie--

I've learned considerably more about the drink when I visited Absinthe Salon. Watch out, I'm going on lecture mode in a bit!

Absinthe Salon is a quirky little place tucked away on Albion St in Surry Hills and quite easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for (happens to me all the time). It serves all kinds of absinthe and only absinthe.

Absinthe is a highly alcoholic spirit that became popular in Europe during the late 1800's. Unfortunately, it became so popular that it was claimed that drinking too much of it will lead to hallucinations and general madness. They say it will make you do unspeakable things, i.e. murder and other violent crimes. That's why absinthe is also known as The Green Fairy. It was, therefore, banned in many countries such as France and The Netherlands in the late 19th century.

Absinthe regained its popularity during the 1990's and the bans on the drink have been reviewed. Although still restricted, the policies regarding production and sale of absinthe are now more lenient.

There is definitely a quaint and gothic feel to Absinthe Salon and is run by a nice couple named Joop Van Heusden & Gaye Valttila (yes, I've done my research).

I want to wear a corset to work someday, too. So jealous!

Sitting in the salon is like being in a time warp. Was this how people like Aleister Crowley, Oscar Wilde & Vincent Van Gogh drank absinthe? I feel sophisticated and creative already!

In the clip above, Susan Sarandon's character poured absinthe into glasses and burned sugar for it. Gaye said that's not the right way to do it and that the absinthe is probably Czech, which is not authentic absinthe.

So how do you drink absinthe?

You will need a fountain or carafe of iced water, a small glass and a slotted spoon for the sugar cubes.

A dose of absinthe is poured into the glass. The liquid starts out clear or green depending on the kind of absinthe.

As the water drips onto the sugar and on towards the absinthe, some kind of reaction happens between the herbs and the water. The liquid turns cloudy and this process is called louching. When there is enough water in the glass (about 3-5 parts), the absinthe is ready to drink... slowly. No burning sugar here.

There are now various kinds of absinthes from all over the world to choose from. Absinthes contain between 42-74% alcohol -- that higher end of the bracket is a LOT of alcohol. It is widely considered that you're only allowed to drink between 2-3 doses of absinthe each time. It is not proven that drinking too much causes hallucinations, but of course, too much of anything is bad for you and absinthe is still alcohol. So just assume you'll get the same effects as binge-drinking.

Absinthe Salon promotes the 2-3 dose advice and they actually close at 10pm (this shocked me). I don't recommend going there for a night cap. Rather, pay a visit when you want to get in the mood to hit the town.

I already started to get that fuzzy feeling after the first dose. After one more, I was definitely drunk Apparently, you should start drinking low alcohol absinthe first, then work your way up. There's method to the madness, after all!

Interestingly, the effect absinthe gave me is that I'm drunk, but more aware of my surroundings. It's strange, when I'm used to alcohol clouding my head and I usually can't see straight. I haven't decided yet if lucid drunkennes is for me, but I'm definitely going to buy myself the whole fountain-glasses-spoons set one day and maybe do my own absinthe salon at home!

How to stay sexy while wading in floodwaters

2011-08-02T21:56:00.001+08:00

It's been raining buckets since last night and lots of people had to wade through floodwaters to get to work or (if you're lucky enough to be sent home early) to get home.

Image is everything, so be sure to stay sexy during a flood by donning these very wholesome pieces--

Let's cause a scandal.

It's a matter of relativity

2011-07-29T13:02:00.000+08:00

I absolutely love, love, love this strip from Calm Blue Oceans --

Lost in all that makeup

2011-07-27T16:43:00.000+08:00

Say you put makeup on every morning and never bothered to take it off at the end of the day for a year, what do you think you'd look like?

Never mind what you'd look like, but how do you think would it feel?? Talk about slapping stuff into your face.

If you're really curious, two Dutch filmmakers have decided to show us how it may look like.

Lernert & Sander: Natural Beauty on Nowness.com.

Amy Winehouse Didn't Want to Sign Up For This

2011-07-25T20:55:00.000+08:00

Amy Winehouse. What a character, eh?

Although the cause of her death last Saturday is still unconfirmed, I doubt that anybody was surprised by the news. She had been on self-destruct mode for goodness knows how long. People weren't shocked... they were saddened.

She's a very talented woman and like many other people who've got immense musical talent, she didn't have the strength to wrestle her demons. Instead, she tried to escape them. I'm certain it wasn't her intention, but by the time Amy Winehouse' body gave up, she unknowingly signed up for the infamous 27 Club -- the group of musicians who died at the very young age of 27. The member list includes Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin, Kurt Cobain and many other high-profile names in music.

What a shame she had to die so young. Was your life really so bad, Amy? I hope your tears really do dry on their own where you are now.

Darling Harbour, Sydney

2011-07-19T14:29:00.000+08:00

Note: The Australia trip happened several months ago. This is the second to the last post in this series.

You know how some people attach stories to a particular place? That's what I try to do now that I've started to get around so much. I have realised that if I don't have any photos or anything to remind of where I've been, I seem to forget them. I usually use happy stories, but I've given Darling Harbour a sad one.

If you know Paulo Coelho's book By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept , my story reminded me of that. I'm not going to go into details, because it's too personal. However, the lessons are universal.

By Darling Harbour, I sat down and wept... after I took noisy nightscape photos that I didn't know how to shoot in the first place.

Life is like a river. No matter how hard you try to keep things from changing, they will. And life will change you -- in little ways that you'd hardly notice or in such a big way that you'd hardly recognise yourself. Darling Harbour is definitely not a river, but any body of water is ever-changing, and this reminds me of that.

Hold on to your insecurities and wallow in your miseries, but only for a short while. There is always something to be thankful for, no matter how small. Cherish them and let them inspire you.

If you're lonely, you can find love anywhere -- you just have know where to look. <3

Nothing is certain in life. Know that what you have now may be taken away from you at any given time. Make the most of them.

Have dreams -- at least one. That is the beacon of light that you will need to guide you through this crazy world.

Megan Fox's Battle With Wrinkles

2011-07-15T11:39:00.001+08:00

There's no denying that Megan Fox is beautiful. Anyone who says otherwise needs to go have his or her eyes (or mind) checked. Of course, some would say that her beauty is too good to be true, so the rumour mills have been busy and there are claim that the actress had used plastic surgery. In an effort to disprove these accusations, she posted some photos via her Facebook page.

Very pretty, but also very made up for just a stinking webcam photo op. Does she put all that make up on everyday?

Oh, I see... She apparently doesn't use Botox, which explains those wrinkles that you get from brow furrowing.

Now, this is just HILARIOUS. I have never seen forehead wrinkles like that!! It looks like she pushed her forehead up with a finger... except the finger is missing!

Doctors claim those wrinkles are anatomically impossible and that the last image was photoshopped.

What do you guys think?

Bagelhead Headache

2011-07-13T13:28:00.005+08:00

I've read an article about Bagelheads' popularity rising in Japan and I seriously get migraines just by looking at the photos. These guys apparently sit down for 2 hours while a medical saline solution is pumped into their foreheads to get this alien look.

I could think of at least a dozen better things to do in those 2 hours, if you ask me.

I will never understand extreme body modification. My guess is doing this is also a means of escape for these people, maybe a bit like drug addiction or alcoholism.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Good Lord, here come the Brides of Chucky.

Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour

2011-07-11T13:47:00.002+08:00

Note: The Australia trip happened several months ago.

If I'm going to be perfectly honest, I'd say that I really had no idea why I decided to go on a trip to Sydney. It seemed like a very expensive spur-of-the-moment decision (although wanting to see U2 so badly convinced me to make that foolish decision). A friend asked if I wanted to see the place and I said yes after a U2 concert was dangled in front of my face, like a carrot to a horse. Sheesh.

If there ever was an award for Lost Soul of 2010, I would have won it hands down.

Does one ever need a better reason for traveling other than just simply wanting to be in that particular place? I say, yes and no. If it involves visas and a large chunk of one's savings, then I guess the answer should be "yes."

For most of the year, I was all over the place -- literally! If someone asked me if I wanted to go anywhere, I was already there loooong before they'd even finished the sentence. I felt as if I was flailing about, not knowing where exactly I wanted to be, like some kind of homeless person.

Walking towards the Sydney Opera House along Circular Quay

Walking towards the sea-facing end of the opera house

You can see the Botanic Gardens from this side

Harbour Bridge

I'd taken moody photos, haven't I? hahahaha

When night has fallen...

Looking at the Harbour Bridge and Opera House photos now, they seem very sad to me...

And when I noticed that all three of us were facing the sea, it's given me a profound revelation. The sea symbolises an unknown future, which is a predicament I had suddenly found myself in. The thought was overwhelmingly daunting and scary. I had been traveling to literally escape thinking about it...

... Or maybe I was simply heartbroken.

.
.
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Romantic Relationships: The Odds Against Us

2011-07-08T13:08:00.000+08:00

I've come across some statistics about how people handle romantic relationships. I'm not going to talk about all of them (there are a lot of them), but there are quite a few numbers there that have caught my eye.

A large number of women want to marry for money. Now, guys may think that we're all gold-diggers, but seriously -- how many women actually do it?? Most women "want" to marry rich, but they really end up marrying for love most of the time. Now, if the guy they're marrying is rich, that's a bonus.

So men fall in love faster than women... but don't guys usually pull back when the girls start falling too? Getting serious may cause some guys to run for the hills! They want the passion, but not the commitment. Therefore, men falling in love doesn't equal wanting to be in a relationship with the women they fall for.

I, therefore, need to curb my cougaristic tendencies, should I want to live longer.

But as guys my age are mostly married or in a serious relationship, the other option becomes unlikely. So I must be destined for spinsterhood. Now, where are the statistics for the life expectancy of single women compared to married ones??

Meanwhile....

There is simply no justice.

So a warning to those women who want to marry rich, dirty, old men in the hopes of becoming a wealthy young widow -- THE BASTARD WILL LIVE LONGER, so don't get your hopes up.

Taxi Chronicles: Frustrated Sosyalera Talaga

2011-07-07T13:06:00.015+08:00

One of my ex-colleagues got hitched a few weeks ago after nearly 10 years of being together -- a very long engagement, indeed! It's so nice to finally see them walk down that aisle, as I thought that the engagement would never end. Hahaha! Never mind, they got there in the end.

Seeing this photo, I do declare that I'd gained quite a bit of weight while I was in the UK (I'm the one on the far right, in case you're wondering). It's quite hard to refuse rich food, really. *sigh*

It was great to catch up with the old office mates and finding out what everybody's been up to after leaving the company and all that general stuff. People keep taking the mickey out of my lack of lovelife, to which I said I'll be booking my wedding next year and will just hope that a groom turns up for the occasion!

I hailed a taxi on the way home and the driver kept telling me

Ma'am, di kayo mukhang taga-(Manila suburb), mukha kayong taga-Dasmariñas Village!

Naman!! Ako na'ng shushal!! Hahahaha!

I never would've thought that I looked like a resident of a posh village in my outfit, but then again, maybe the damn driver just wanted a bigger tip -- do I really look like an idiot??

At least it seems I really live up to the nickname I gave myself.

Lady Gaga and Her Green Armpits

2011-07-06T14:19:00.001+08:00

So Lady Gaga's armpits are green.. It's hilarious!!!

They look stuck-on, but at least they match the hair on her head. Colour-coordination to the highest level!! XD

Jeffrey Campbell Shoes For Free!

2011-07-06T09:24:00.000+08:00

As if I don't have enough pairs of shoes that I don't wear, I want to get more! And because it's not bloody likely that I'd get my credit card out for a a pair of Jeffrey Campbells, I thought I might as well try winning a pair. If you want to do the same, here's how --

1. Join AVA -- an invitation-only shopping community where you can shop designer brands (i.e. Rajo Laurel, Aranaz, Jeffrey Campbell, Victoria Beckham, etc.) at up to 70% off the retail prices. Click here to sign up.

2. Invite your friends. Whoever invites the most friends to join AVA by 8th July (that's this Friday, in case you forget) will win a pair of Jeffrey Campbell shoes of their choice. This should be easy enough, right?

Whoever wins gets to choose a pair from any of the following styles --

Foxy

(not sure if this is the exact one, ok?haha!)

So Crazy

So Much

Lita Woven

Be Well

Whatchudoin' oglin' them shoes, for?? Get crackin' and get invitin'!

Old new shoes

2011-07-05T11:12:00.005+08:00

I keep doing this to myself, seriously.

I hate shopping, but when I see something I like and I go home still thinking about it and can't sleep, then I go back for it asap. It's not exactly a practical thing, it's an emotional thing. I always end up suffering buyer's remorse and this is the latest casualty --

I love, love, LOVE this new pair of shoes, which I bought WEEKS ago and haven't worn yet. Nor is there any prospect of me wearing it any time soon. Why?! Because I don't drive to go anywhere and I do a considerable amount of walking every time I leave my house. So I always end up choosing my other, more comfortable shoes.

So why buy killer platform heels, then?? Because it's purrrrr-ty, that's why! If I want to murder my feet, I'll use it, but I'm still thinking about it. This is why I call myself a Frustrated Sosyalera -- my inner vanity is always battling with my sensible, comfort-loving mind.

Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, Sydney

2011-07-02T13:02:00.003+08:00

Note: The Australia trip happened several months ago.

Unlike my recent UK trip, I have no relatives in Sydney who have homes I could crash into while doing my touristy things. Therefore, I had to book myself into a hotel for a few days.

Travel sites are ideal for doing these kinds of things because they usually cut a good deal. When I'd decided to stay 4 nights in Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, I shelled out less than P18,000. I checked the rates again just before I wrote this post and found that it's over P5,000 /night to book now, but you may get it cheaper if you stay longer than 3 nights. That's an excellent bargain, when you know that Hyde Park is just one block away and that it'll only take you 2 minutes to walk to the nearest train station. You can't get any central than that, unless you want the Opera House just outside your hotel.

Castlereagh is in the same building as the New South Wales Masonic Club. Incidentally, it is a listed heritage building -- a fact about it that I absolutely love. Expect it to be somewhat traditional.

I nearly missed the lobby door when walking down Castlereagh St! It was just a small door from the pavement, so it pays to watch out for the signs above when looking for your hotel, shops, etc.

When I said to expect something traditional, it means you need to insert your hotel room key into the elevator to get to your room floor. I was beside myself the first time I had to do it!

My flight landed at about 7am and was dreading that I would have to wait until 10am for an early check-in. Thank God a room was immediately available, so I had been able to freshen up after flying in a plane overnight (incidentally, there was nobody sitting next to me in that flight also -- am I on a streak here?)

I booked a single room with a double bed and an en-suite bathroom. I had experienced staying in a hotel in London before where I had to share a bathroom with other residents on my floor and I absolutely hated it. So I didn't mind paying extra for the privacy.

The room is really clean (very, very important). The only issues I have about it is that really old-fashioned bedspread (reminds me of lola/grandma) and that frosted window. I love being able to see the world from my room, but here, I don't even know if it's morning or afternoon. What a pity.

The bathroom is modern and spotless!!! Considering that it's a very old building and I expected some kind of medieval plumbing system with the price I got the room in, I was very pleased!

Would I stay there again?Absolutely!! It's clean, the staff are friendly and most of all -- it's a really good bargain!

2011: Mid-year review

2011-07-01T10:50:00.006+08:00

It's the first day of July, meaning that we're about halfway into the year -- which makes me wonder how I've managed so far. I drafted a list of goals during the New Year, so maybe I'll revisit that first.

I've certainly ticked off most of the things on my list, which makes me feel quite good.

Addressing my fear of heights, advocacy and swimming still look like they're going to take a while. But I do have a bit more courage than I used to. The magic place, I've still yet to find -- I've only been back for 3 weeks, though.

There are also quite a few things that I believe really made for an eventful first half of 2011 --

Flying off to the UK for almost 3 months
Traveling all over Scotland for a week
A 22-hour drive to and from the Franco-German border
A funeral I won't ever forget
Re-discovering myself and what really matters to me

After all of that, I feel like I've matured 5 more years! I just hope it doesn't show on my face. Tsk. With a first 6 months as hectic as this, I wonder what the rest of this holi-year has in store for me?

How to get over jetlag when you've lost a day

2011-06-30T13:33:00.004+08:00

On the flight back to Manila from the UK, I'd lost a day. It's not only about sitting in the plane for over 12 hours, but also because Manila time is 7 hours ahead of British standard time -- which effectively means I'd lost 23 hours of my life just transiting from one country to another.

As if lost time is not enough, the thing that's really a bitch about international travel is the jetlag. It had been more than two weeks since I'd arrived and I'm still struggling to get up before 10 o'clock in the morning and falling asleep by midnight.

How do you recover from jetlag when you've lost a day?

I'd done all the usual stuff like setting the alarm early (I just fall back asleep after turning it off), reducing my caffeine intake and just relaxing an hour before bedtime -- they didn't really work for me. I now have to take drastic measures to reset my body clock -- pills. *sigh* I only really need to start falling asleep early enough, to wake up early as well.

I actually find it easier to recover from jetlag when flying towards the West -- one only needs to stay up late to adjust to the time. But coming back to the East is hard, as it means waking up earlier. This is not easy, especially for non-morning people like me.

If you're in serious need of jetlag recovery tips, you can look them up here.

Diabetics not allowed

2011-06-28T09:23:00.007+08:00

If you're a diabetic, I believe it would be best to keep away from this post.

I remember a post I'd written about 2 years ago when I went to nose about Manila Pen's chocolate buffet. It was simply out of this world! However, I had no idea my chocolate obsession would be taken further than that -- I'd managed to get myself entangled into a chocolate Easter egg making class at Nottingham University (oh yes, Robin Hood's county) while in the UK some time ago.

We weren't taught how to make chocolate, exactly, as they were already pre-made. We were basically taught how to temper, mold and put fillings in them.

I was seriously thinking about stealing that chocolate bowl, which I could fill with my chocolate truffles. Dangerous thoughts!

We were all basically rolling in chocolate that evening.

I thought I was a mess, until I saw these two girls!

There's no room for making fasyon in the kitchen people! You better forget about it! (The uncle dressed me in oversized jackets and aprons for the occasion and I wasn't about to go out of the kitchen looking like this)

After decorating the molds, tempering the chocs and filling the molds, the chocolate is left to cool down.

The following are Frankenstein's (namely me) monsters --

Abysmal effort, but still an effort.

Golf ball truffles filled with mint chocolate and salty caramel (sounds weird, but it's actually quite yummy).

My heart's got measles. Dreadful!

Tax talk

2011-06-27T16:31:00.002+08:00

If there’s one thing I absolutely hate about being an adult, it would be the tax thing. There’s this horrible overall feeling that part of your hard-earned money goes to a government that you’re not happy with. It is totally “taxing” (pardon the bad pun).

As I work from home, I get jibed by people all the time about how I’d been successfully dodging taxes. That is not true at all. First of all, there’s VAT. And if I really want to be a part of society, I have to pay my income taxes just like everybody else. Income tax return sheets are required now for visa processing and as I like to travel, it’s really a no-brainer. Plus, if I end up paying late, I need to get a tax extension form too, just like everybody else.

Oh, I do hate it -- especially when you try to earn more, because you also get taxed more. It’s a vicious cycle!

Kite-ing

2011-06-27T12:43:00.000+08:00

I remember my Dad telling me when I was little “You’re so skinny that if you were made into a kite, you’d fly.”

Ok, maybe he didn’t say it quite like that (my Dad’s English is terrible, for starters), but that was the general idea. I was so skinny that my body could have been used as a kite frame – all that was needed was papel de japon (or Japanese paper, as we call it).

My skinny days are long-gone, though. I’d successfully put quite a bit of junk in my trunk when puberty kicked in, but those days of flying kites make me a bit nostalgic. Video games were for rich kids and those of us who were “have-nots” must make do with just our imaginations.

Unfortunately, I didn’t really get much kite-flying instruction in those days. It was just a lot of got-kite-will-run-with-it kind of stuff. No stunts, just straightforward flying and if your kite gets caught in the electric wires and you can’t get to them no more, then just make a new one.

Nowadays, people can get DVD supplies for almost any hobby. The Prism Freestyle Pilot DVD makes for a good start in getting some serious stunt kite flying, for those who want to take kites up to a different level.

Ain’t technology grand?

Flying in Style

2011-06-25T12:55:00.000+08:00

We all have our lucky days. The day I flew back home to Manila is one of my luckiest ever.

I was nervous checking in at Heathrow Airport in London, as my luggage is overweight (about 12 damn kilos over). I was trying to check in 2 suitcases (incidentally, the smaller one was filled with shoes -- no joke! I'm Filipino and definitely Imeldific to a degree). For my hand luggage, I hid my netbook in my handbag and my SLR was slung over my shoulder.

But instead of asking me to pay over $400 dollars for the extra kilos in my luggage, the ground staff told me that I could just take my shoe-tcase (suitcase, geddit? lollll I crack myself up), to the cabin with me. Excellenttttt! Maybe it was because I was early, or maybe it was because I'm petite and it wouldn't have made a difference weight-wise on the plane, but who the heck cares? As long as they didn't ask me to pay or take stuff out my luggage, I'm perfectly satisfied.

Imagine my surprise as my plane took off for Hong Kong that my seatmate didn't arrive. Yay! More room to stretch in during that gruelling 12-hour flight!

As I was walking out of the plane and towards the terminals in Hong Kong airport, several Chinese ground staff were hollering for people taking the next Manila flight. I then noticed my name printed out on a bulletin board behind them. I became nervous for a moment, because I'd thought I'm going to be questioned by Immigration or something. It's a paranoid thought, I know!

Imagine my shock when one of the ladies handed me a new boarding pass which had BUSINESS CLASS stamped on it.

Oh happy day!!! I'd been upgraded!

So how does flying business class feel like? Let me just show you.

The best thing about it is the privacy and the amazing leg room. *sigh* All you can see are your neighbours' feet, though. Not exactly a pretty sight, but so what, eh?

And your seat may be customised in a myriad of ways through buttons on the bottom right corner of the photo. I've never seen such a complicated chair in my life!

I guess you'd be too comfortable to even bother looking out the window -- because you can't.

You get proper glasses, napkins and cutlery during mealtimes, unlike the cheap plastic ones you get in economy.

And you can put your feet up the whole flight. Blisssss.

The trouble is, the flight from Hong Kong to Manila only takes less than 2 hours -- which is barely enough time to enjoy the whole experience. Bummer, I know. I can only wish this happens every time I take a long-haul flight!

Follow the Owl to Pottermore

2011-06-23T22:12:00.002+08:00

JK Rowling's announcement that all Harry Potter fans have been dying to hear all week --

After listening to that, it seems like a grand idea! But it makes me think that Pottermore can also become the craziest online world ever -- as if the books aren't enough! October seems so far away now.