Barkada Trip – Page 2

Terimah kasih, Jakarta!

February 19, 2013June 7, 2014 Tina 4 Comments

When our hosts in Jakarta asked us about what we expected about the place and what we wanted to do, I had no idea what to answer. Not just because I’m not a fan of expectations, but it’s really because I had none. Other than this being a surprise trip, I didn’t really do much research about it. I didn’t have time to do research, actually, plus even if I am good with organizing things, I’m not that good with fixing itineraries just yet.

So I really, really had no expectations whatsoever. And it turned out to be a really, really awesome thing. :)

Jakarta was nice and warm and lovely. That’s what I say when people ask me about my trip. It really is, and of course, the people I met while I was there really helped seal that impression. Jakarta reminded me of Manila in several ways, but it’s bigger, cleaner and interestingly, had more traffic. But that was because they have no train system (boo-hoo, and I like trains), so there’s really just more cars on the road.

It was a very lovely trip — full with activities and food and laughter and new friends. It’s nice to go on a trip with very little expectations because you get so surprised about so many things along the way. ((Come to think of it, this applies toÂ everything in my life.)) :)

Random Adventures

February 5, 2013February 5, 2013 Tina 3 Comments

This will be short, because there’s really nothing I can write here right now — nothing that isn’t too personal even for a personal blog, anyway. Let me tell you a story, instead!

Last December, my friend sent me a message asking for my full name and birthday. Thinking it was for some record in our church community, I gave it to her, and promptly forgot about it because I was a bit busy preparing for a wedding the following day. Hours later, I was walking around the mall when I got a series of Facebook messages. I ignored it, since I was still quite busy. When I got home, I started doing my nails for the said wedding when I finally checked my Facebook inbox. I read the message, and read it again to make sure:

“FRIENDS, WE’RE GOING TO INDONESIA!”

Followed by our flight details. And other things.

Surprise! Would you look at that.

And so a couple of months later, it’s the night before my first out of the country trip since Europe, my plane ride since Boracay last year, and my first trip this year. It’s a little sudden, yes, and normally those things get me cranky, but if I am overdue for another trip. Make that a mission trip, because we’re really off to do some community stuff there, so that’s a plus! God knows how much I need to clear my mind right now.

So when a friend books you a flight and you know you can make it, then by all means, GO. We all need random adventures every now and then. I did say February is going be great, yes? :)

See you all next week, friends!

Archers for a Day

December 19, 2012April 25, 2014 Tina 3 Comments

Also known as:Â An archery lesson of sorts

I realize it’s been more than two months since this happened but I never posted about it. I think I need a little break from the serious entries here, so let’s talk about something fun and not that serious.

Last June, our book club discussed J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring. Our venue was at Gandiva Cafe and Archery Range in Ortigas, this vegetarian restaurant and the only (?) archery range in Manila. We were supposed to try the archery but we did not get to because of time constraints and there were no lanes left for us to use. I wasn’t really that hot for archery, but when I saw a Groupon for archery + food in Gandiva a few weeks later, I told my friends about it jokingly. Turns out they were serious about it, so I got several coupons that we used a few months later.

I honestly had dreams that archery would be easy because it looks easy on TV. I’m not saying it’s easy-peasy, but it should not be that hard, right?

Well, I was wrong.

The Groupon I purchased came with food, so my friends and I had late lunch before the actual archery session. Once we were done, we headed over to the archery area and got ourselves oriented and then started shooting. Oh, wait I made it sound easy, but there were actually several things you have to remember with archery, and it’s really important to focus on your form so you can hit the target right. Apparently, we’re also supposed to be quiet, but of course, we weren’t. :P

Ahoy pictures!