San Francisco Weekend

Love the weather! I can't rave about it enough. I came in a good time they say. The sun and the breeze was just right.

J toured me around the first day I arrived. We went to Alcatraz and walked by the pier area. Got the I heart SF shirt I planned on buying. Only shirt left now for this trip is the I heart LA shirt. I hope I can grab one before I leave. Ate at famous Mitchell's ice cream. I only see them on Discovery Travel until now.

Stayed at T's couch for the weekend. So nice to see her and her husband C, now with their eight month old baby. She is the cutest. Very obediant and stress free baby. T is still the T I know-- Only now she's a mommy. Auntie C must be so proud of her.

Was able to catch up with E too. Spent the afternoon walking around Union Square.

The trip was just right. Of course, I wished I could have stayed longer. No stress.

Masters

Getting financial aid seems harder than I initially thought. It's a deal breaker. I don't know if its too much to ask, but I'd only go for full scholorship (sponsorship) or nothing. I hope my everything turns out well and fall into place. Right now everything feels so daunting.

University of San Francisco

Just went to their website. Found the an M.A. program that interests me. M.A. in Organization and Leadership. Saw USF too while I was here. Apparently my cousin T and his husband C graduated from here. It's a Jesuit school too in the west coast (where the weather is much warmer). But of course, Georegtown can still be something else. Still contemplating on what to do with my life.

East Coast Top 10 (random order)

NYC
1. Getting lost in the subway
2. Going home to the Bronx at 230am
3. Coney Island Boardwalk
4. Hole in the wall restaurants
5. Times Square lights
6. Chinese take-out dinner
7. Street and Subway performers
8. Walking and walking some more
9. Behind the scene tours
10. Street Food

DC/Maryland
1. National Monuments
2. Union Station
3. Driving in Maryland
4. Jefferson Memorial
5. Seeing Philippine references in the monuments
6. .15 cent wings
7. DC by night
8. Air and Space museum
9. Zorba's restaurant
10. Oli's house and Mela's Apartment

Washington DC

Just visited some friends in DC to cap off my east coast leg. I feel bad because I wish I could stay longer. I don't miss the weather there, though. Now I know what they mean by Fall attire. I overheard a guy based in DC commented that the shift to fall was the most abrupt change he has ever experienced. Question is, will I ever get used to the east coast weather if I finally decide to study there?

What a dilemma. Visiting the east coast has opened doors for me to try and consider taking my M.A. there. Most of my friends that I visited there are/were studying there, so I saw a part of me in them while hearing their stories both good and bad. Haay, what to do. I went to the Georgetown website and I saw the perfect course for me. M.A. in Leadership. It was really scary because while reading the course write-up, it seemed like it was talking to me. Describing me.

My friends J and M are encouraging me to grab the opportunity that will definitely change my life. A part of me wants to but a part of me doesn't. Mainly because of the impact studying has on the life I'm already living. I think this will change me-- I know it will. I know it will change me for the better. I just want to do a lot of things and I'm sure taking an M.A. will bring in more things since I will surely see the world a new. I think I have to really think hard and discern before I make my decision.

Back in DC, I met up with my old officemate O. We spent the day touring the monuments while catching up on the things back home. Me being there served as a refreshing break for him since he misses everyone back home. Back in his house in Maryland, I drove for the first time. Not bad. I'm still a nervous US driver, though. I couldn't stay long. I wish I could stay longer.

New York New York

As a first time new york traveller, I travelled like there was no tomorrow. I didn't let my legs bother me from walking at an average of 30 blocks a day. That could be nothing to the typical yorker but that's just far over the walking rate of a manilenyo.

Got the NYC Pass and a 7 day unlimited Metro Card to move around. Getting lost was part of the adventure which can be correlated to the average blocks that I walk everyday. Nevertheless, it was still so much fun.

Very happy tired right now.

Big Apple!

Finally, I'm in New York. Took the Greyhound bus at 1:10am from Washington DC. Had Greek dinner at Zorbas, Yoghurt dessert at Yogato and walked around DC with M. DC by night is something to experience. Got to see the White House and the Mall all lit up. The weather was perfect. Surprisingly warmer than usual according to her.

Slept most of the trip going to NY. Good timing because when I woke up what seemed to be out my window was the skyline of NY. Was that the Chrysler Building? Am I really here? Grabe, it's all so surreal.

P picked me up at 6am and we walked around Times Square and Central Station. Of course, we had to take pictures. I did the 'Hiro Nakamura' pose in Times Square. I just had to! It was fun walking around that early in the morning. The sun was not out yet, so i seemed like night time still without the people. Even saw the set 'Good Morning America'.

I'll be going to the Bronx Zoo later. Good timing because Wednesday is FREE entrance day. Might go to Central Park after lunch. We'll see.

So far, I'm having the time of my life!

Hollywood!

Went to Hollywood today and took in the 'celebrity-ness' of the place. Been there before but this time around it was really different since I'm much older and I appreciate it more. (I can associate Hollywood more with the movies and shows I watch) I'm pretty sure that I'll continue to have this feeling as I tour around the states.

Going back to Hollywood. We we're looking for a place to park and we ended up on the underground parking of the famous Kodak Theater! Funny because that was where we were headed. I didn't see any celebrity, though. Only celebrity look alikes wearing these downgraded costumes. I saw Batman in his tatered outfit and a thinner version of Superman among others. Supergirl came up to me. I saw Darth Vader, Marilyn Monroe, and Nacho Libre look alikes too.

Walking around Hollywood and seeing places like the Kodak Theater and Roosevelt Hotel felt so surreal. I'm actually here seeing the places I only see on TV or in the Movies. This is the real shiz.

I had so much fun walking around and reeling in whatever the place has to offer. I love that feeling. The feeling of being on vacation.

Kodak Theater

From LA DAY 0 and 1

Saw a 90210 ad

From LA DAY 0 and 1

Jimmy Kimmel Live

From LA DAY 0 and 1

Darth Vader talking to Marilyn Monroe

From LA DAY 0 and 1

Roosevelt Hotel

From LA DAY 0 and 1

Chinese Theater

From LA DAY 0 and 1

Victoria Secret Angels

From LA DAY 0 and 1

Finally here!

Yey! Arrived earlier than expected. Apparently the winds were strong making it faster for the plane to get to LA faster. Just woke up. I purposely tried not to sleep during the trip so that I won't get jet lagged as much.

My Uncle and Aunt's place is near downtown LA. On the way there, I saw the Disney Theater and Staple's Center.

I got my T-Mobile phone running. Thanks to sir M.

The plan today is to go around Hollywood and Rodeo Drive. Tomorrow, I'll be flying to DC first thing in the morning.

Countdown

Almost done and I'm ready to leave for my quarter life adventure. Bought myself a black notebook so that I can put down notes on my trip. The goal is to write something in central park, and in all the other parks I go to. Drama music full volume. Senti mode on. Hahaha. R, this one's for you. We were just talking about my trip and what I'll do in NY. Didn't bother buying a moleskin notebook anymore. It would have completed the whole 'introspective traveler' look.

Psyched for my trip

Prepping for my trip is like catching a taxi during rush hour. Seems like I barely got the time to really get things together because of the demands of my work. It never ends. The only way to end it is to leave it all together with a prized vacation. I'm leaving in a few days for the adventure of this quarter life. I'm leaving for the states and I can't wait. After all, I deserve this vacation. I earned it every sweet minute of it. Traveling alone has never been this exciting for me. Come to think of it, this is the very first time that I'm traveling alone (on a vacation). I feel like I'll be embarking on this 'discovery travel' like trip and I'm the host.

Since I'm considering this as one of the legendary trips that I'll be making in my lifetime, I plan to blog away and immortalize this in cyberspace for my future grand kids to hopefully stumble upon in the future.

Keep posted.