After TEN YEARS, I finally flew back. :)

JR and I on board RBA.

The Arrival Hall in Brunei. I was surprised that after oh so long, the airport still looked the same! LOL!

Warning: A ton of photos under the cut. I always take too many photos. My computer memory is seriously suffering and is at the brink of overflowing already!

What finally got me to fly back to Brunei after so long, you may ask? The wedding of one of my closest friends in the world. =) After getting settled into our hotel, we all headed to church for a quick rehearsal.

And of course, me being back in Brunei (after 10 years!) was a cause for a mini-celebration with my ladies!!! Chinky and Kriselda picked JR and I up from our hotel for an Italian buffet dinner with the others. :)

With hot mama Matet! :)

I was really excited to see Suzanne. I see Chinky and Matet occasionally, and I see Kriselda a lot, but Sue and I haven’t seen each other since I left 10 years ago! Was really ecstatic to finally see her again! :)

I was obviously very happy to be back in Brunei. I was even excited to see Brunei dollars again! LOL!

5/7 of the dancing chicas! The only missing were Carla and Michelle, and we could’ve gone up on stage to do those dance numbers like we used to! Hehe!

My first night back in Brunei, and I already felt like I was back home! :) The whole place looks the same! Just a few new roads and buildings here and there, but really, it was as if I just left a few months ago! =P My overused phrase the entire trip was “Nothing’s changed!” HAHA! Even the music that they were playing at Capers (where we had dinner) was so 10 years ago! Think ‘N Sync, 98 Degrees, Gabrielle, Janet Jackson and Aerosmith! =P

Instead of going back to the hotel right after coffee and dessert, the four of us decided to go on an impromptu road trip!

First agenda was to drive past my old house, because I told them I wanted to take a photo of me in front of it! HAHA! I really jumped out of the car and made them take this photo… even if it was dark and creepy outside! LOL!

This was our 2nd house in Brunei. You can’t really see the entire house from this view, but that’s my parents’ room on the 2nd floor with the balcony and the two windows. I was looking forward to seeing my old house, but I ended up just being disappointed with what I saw. It looks so old and creepy now! =( It used to be so nice and pretty, with my dad’s well kept garden and flowers along the driveway. But after 10 years, it looks just like an abandoned old house. So sad! =(

Seeing my old house was depressing, so we drove to a nicer and much much much prettier place – The Empire Hotel! We took the semi-long (not that long really, because Brunei is such a tiny country!) drive just to use the loo… and take vain photos too! =P See how pretty it is!!! Too bad we couldn’t go back in the daytime. We just didn’t have enough time! :(

I love taking photos with people who love taking photos too! <3

The following day, Chinky picked JR and I up early so we could go to mass. It was nice hearing mass back in C.O.L.A. =) It was nice seeing a handful of familiar faces there too! :)

Gina was there!!!! <3

And some CFC peeps too! <3

After mass, Matet took us out for a quick lunch at Jollibee… because JR was craving for it! HAHA! Then we spent the rest of our day resting back at the hotel, to recharge and get ready for a long wedding day celebration.

Two days back in Brunei, and I really felt back at home already. <3

Wedding post to follow. =)

I only had a few hours sleep last night and I’m still all groggy, but I can’t seem to get myself to go back to bed. Michael Jackson was a big part of my younger days, and I really am quite affected by his passing. I was able to watch him in concert twice for free back in 1996 (Dangerous and History), and like I’ve said before, those two are the BEST concerts I’ve ever watched!

His Dangerous concert was also the first one I ever watched! Too bad I don’t have the concert pictures with me at the moment (will definitely look  for them when I go home!), but I still have a pretty vivid memory of that experience. I remember I was in the crowd with my family and our neighbors. Me in my white shirt, denim overalls, maroon Doc Martens, geeky glasses, long hair and blue+white polka-dot scrunchy (I was such a geek! haha!). All throughout the night, I jumped up and down, sang and danced along with the crowd. It was one awesome night, and this morning I actually cried while I watched videos on youtube of the same concert.

This was the concert. <3

It wasn’t only the catchy tunes that drew me to his music, but it was mostly the words and meaning in them. His lyrics are truly magical! They’ve touched me, made me sing, made me dance, and made me cry at the same time.

“If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.” – Michael Jackson.

Today I join the world in mourning and in lighting a candle for one extraordinary entertainer. Rest in Peace, MJ! You are definitely LOVED, and you are truly a LEGEND! <3

My dog, Gucci, has also made it pretty obvious that she’s thrilled to have me back home. She follows me everywhere and insists on sleeping next to me like she used to. <3

She’s a happy little mutt! =)

And I’m a happy mommy! =P

She loves me! Wheee! XD

Tomorrow I’ll be spending the day with my family at out farm. Then next week I’m meeting up with different sets of friends.

It’s so good to be back home! <3

My new Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S in pink! <3

Finding film for my Polaroid Spirit 600 has been very difficult ever since Polaroid ceased its instant film production. I haven’t seen a single store in Singapore/Philippines (they don’t sell them at Dansko either) who have any stock left! The prices of the ones being sold online have even gone up, and that doesn’t even include shipping yet! It’s so just so sad, because I really think Polaroids are great. They print instant memories, and each photo is always unique and personal.

While searching for cheap Polaroid 600 films online, I stumbled upon an LJ spree who sold the Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S for a lower price. I had been wanting one for months, and I finally gave in, because it was a really good deal. :)

My new toy next to my beloved Polaroid Spirit 600.

The Instax Mini 7s is definitely no Polaroid, but it’s still a wonderful alternative. I still get that instant gratification upon seeing the result a few seconds after clicking. What can I say, I just love instant photos! <3

Fuji has even made additions to the basic experience of the classic Polaoroid. Unlike the Polaroid where the battery is part of the film cartridge, the Instax Mini has it’s own battery compartment (for 4 AA batteries) that’s part of the camera. The quality of the prints have also improved, with its automatic built-in flash, infinity focusing, a high quality Fujinon lens and a simple exposure control which you can switch according to your light conditions.

Instax Mini film vs. Polaroid 600 film.

Instax Mini films come smaller than the Polaroid 600 films. About the size of a credit card, they’re great to stash inside a wallet. To top it off, the films are also a lot cheaper than the Polaroid 600!

I just found out that the films are cheaper in Manila, so I’m gonna go stock up when I fly back. ^_^

I love love love dancing. It’s the best workout. No diet or weight loss pills can compare, because it’s essentially both fun and exercise at the same time. I even joined Fitness First two years ago, because I wanted to take Body Jam classes. No matter how tired I was from work, I would still drive down to the gym for the one hour session.

Dancing always brings me to a natural high, and I terribly miss it. <3

I wasn’t too surprised. I predicted this all-male final. These three have had the most number of fans since the Top 12 were chosen, and I was certain their fans just wouldn’t let them down. But based on last night’s performance (Rock Week), where Danny was obviously the weakest among the four, I was really hoping for him to go. I reckon the judges (except for Simon) were too nice to him. His last note was just awful, but America still made him safe from elimination (safer than getting wholesale term life insurance, perhaps?). And Allison’s performance was definitely way better than his, even if the judges thought otherwise.

I loved Allison’s look during the Rat Pack week (photo above). So glam rock!

I cried while watching Allison’s final song. She’s not exactly my favorite (I love Adam, by the way), but I thought she rocked it. Probably the best elimination song I’ve heard this season. I’m sad that she had to go, but American Idol winner or not, I think she’s gonna go far!

Can’t wait for next week’s performance from the Top 3. Let’s see if America made the right choice by voting the all-male final.

**Photo credits go to AmericanIdol.com (Rat Pack week).

It’s specially more heartwarming when the bride happens to be one of your closest friends.

I went to Dinesh and Cecilia’s ROM back in 2006. JR and I flew here to Singapore just to see these two. The whole ceremony was beautiful; the bride, the groom and the love those two have for each other was inspiring.

Next month, on the day of my birthday to be exact, these two are finally having their church wedding. JR and I are going to be there as their witnesses (I’m one of her bridesmaids too!), and I just can’t wait! It’s also an excuse for us to fly to Brunei (where the church wedding will take place), and I’m equally excited about that too. After ten years, I’m finally going back to the place I called home for a little over six years! (:

But eversince I moved here in Singapore, meeting other bloggers has somewhat become more fun for me. Perhaps having a great time meeting Ederic, Alex and Leonard last December made me more excited about meeting new people.

So last week, I was glad to meet with other Pinoy plurkers/bloggers over dinner and a round of drinks after. I met up with April, waited for JR to get off work (web programming jobs, yo!), then walked to The Esplanade. I’m happy we went, because it was a definitely one great night with yummy Thai food, free dessert, free wine too (!!!), and fun (funny? =P) company.

Here’s the bunch:

Jing, Alex, Aileen (who was visiting from Manila), Drew, Jaren, Kat, Kates, Bel, Jansci (the one in yellow, hiding behind Bel =P), JR, me and April. Missing in this photo is Carl. =P

Alex organized the dinner. And Aileen being in Singapore was actually the reason why the gathering took place. :)

We had dinner at Thai Express, and we received 5 plates of dessert for free! *ahem*ahem*

…and a bottle of red wine too! Don’t ask how! LOL!

JR, April and I. :)

Another group shot (minus Carl again!) before moving to Harry’s Bar for some drinks.

Everyone ordered beer and shots of jagermeister…

…while I opted for a frozen strawberry margarita. <3

Finally, a picture with Carl! =P

Cheers to new plurker/blogger friends! =D

It was a fun, fun night. And I know it won’t be my last meeting new bloggers. =D

The weekend was then spent bonding with more friends over food, drinks and Rockband for JR’s birthday.

Then Monday afternoon, I was happy to have lunch and coffee with Chinky, another close childhood friend, who was in town for a few days.

It’s always nice hanging out with friends you practically grew up with. No matter how long we don’t see each other (it’s been about two to three years), we never have problems picking up from where we left off. <3

Tomorrow, it’ll be dinner with some Pinoy plurkers/bloggers (I’m excited to meet new friends!). Next week, it’ll be more girl bonding over a salon trip and a weekend getaway. Then mid next month I’m flying back to Manila for a little over a week to relax and unwind. I haven’t planned anything for my trip yet (no rv camping or anything), but I’m really looking forward to seeing my family and more friends. There truly is no place like home. <3

It was nice seeing him read through all the messages, but it was even more heartwarming seeing him all teary-eyed by the end of it. <3

During the day, I slaved away in the kitchen cooking for almost seven hours. Ended up making way too much food for our small party of seven in the evening.

Here’s what we had: spaghetti, tacos, chicken lollipop, sausages, salami, ham, grapes and cheese.

I like throwing parties. And even if I had an exhausting afternoon in the kitchen (it was excruciatingly hot that day too!), I enjoyed every minute of it anyway. =P

We spent the night bonding over chismis, food, drinks and Rockband. Here are the guys: JR, Jeff (our housemate), Carl and Alex. Look at how serious they looked! Alex, who was supposedly a Rockband virgin, even scored 100% on vocals on his first try! =P

And of course, the pretty ladies (mga saling-pusa. LOL!): Mel, me and Bel.

The boys were more into actually playing than the girls. I think we girls enjoyed the food, drinks and the picture-taking more! LOL!

See, I enjoyed posing with my cheese more. And mixing the drinks. And refilling the bowl of ice every thirty minutes. LOL!

But, I still love bonding over Rockband. Then again, everything is so nice with that LCD TV (courtesy of Jeff) in the living room! LOL! No need for tv mounts, because our lovely TV console is big enough to house all the boys’ toys and gadgets!

The birthday boy initially didn’t want to have a party, but I forced him into it a couple of days before.

I was glad that he eventually gave in and allowed me to throw him the small get together, because he really looked happy that day. <3

It was an awesome night bonding with wonderful friends. I just hope we had a bigger living room, so we could’ve had more people over. =P