Touchdown Minnesota!

Fall

Heya! Sharing with you a couple of snaps from yesterday's (was it?) travel. MNL--NRT--LA--MSP. :D

It's my first international trip so I'm crazy excited about everything. I was travelling alone but I wasn't too worried about it cos I'm sure there are people I can ask around for directions haha.

Flying Delta :D

 I thought I was carrying too much but look, 12.5kgs lang pala lol

Pre-boarding selfie cos I checked in too early :D

Love this in-flight entertainment system. Tons of movies to watch, tracks to listen, and games to play. Their earphones sucks though cos it's in-ear! Good thing Jeckie bought me an early birthday gift before I left -- a red Urbanista San Fran! yeyy! Didn't think we'd find one at Fairview Terraces especially that I was told they're only available at Megamall for now. I was also afraid the mic wouldn't work but thank God it did! Best earphones ever! Chos. XD

In-flight meals are surprisingly good. It's my first in-flight meal anyway so whatever haha

Above the clouds! <3

Deplaning at Narita Airport, Japan. I can finally say I've been to Japan HAHA but not really since I only had a short layover there and I found myself lugging super heavy bags I couldn't stroll around with ease. Lesson learned, even in long flights, try to lessen your hand-carry baggage. It can get super tiring. My arms are hurting right now.

Leaving Japan! Off to a 10 hour flight to LA. :D Lucky that I was able to score window seats for all of my flights! That means more pictures (of clouds), but it also means I have to hold my pee cos it's so hassle having to weave out of your seatmates to get to the lavatory. XD Anyway, you all know how window seats are important to first timers! hahaha

In-flight dinner. I love everything they served so far!

Specially their coffee ;D

Syalin. Delta proudly serves Starbucks. Bongga!

Well above the sky. :)

Gus Fring offering drinks. Kidding. But doesn't he resemble him? Only younger and chubbier? Haha

I had a pretty long layover at LA but I didn't do much strolling cos my bags are too heavy and I'm already so spent after passing through immigration and TSA check. My bags are a great hassle, I have an entire backpack dedicated to all my electronic devices and pulling them out on trays for checking and putting them all back in after that kindof stressed me, specially when there are other trays in the line haha.

Here's my first purchase, a $15 worth of food at the LA International Airport. My mom will be proud cos my drink is screaming greens and my food has vegetables in it. I enjoyed the drink but the food is so blah, too much arugula and not a trace of Caesar dressing contrary to what the label says. I was actually thinking of complaining about it but then I had to carry my bags with me to the counter and they were so heavy so I decided against it. It's okay though. But $15 is roughly Php675 and this is definitely not worth 675, even with the Ceasar dressing. HUHU

After eating and getting a short nap near the departure gate, we're finally off for boarding. The view was amazing. :) I posted a super short clip of this scene on Instagram haha

Some 4 hours into the flight and we've arrived at Minneapolis! I did a quick check and was shocked at the 0 deg temperature outside. Woah.

And indeed, it was crazy cold. I think I wouldn't be able to bear the temp outside. Even when the sun was up this afternoon the air was freezing cold! It's not even winter yet! Oh, here's the porch of the house where I'm staying right now. Love the abundance of trees in here! Also that there is 0 traffic! Minneapolis is pretty much filled with highways!

Right now I'm feeling, ano ba, alone. Sucks I came here knowing no one at all. I just came to be acquainted with a few people when I arrived here plus my housemates. Other than that, I'm not totally totally comfortable yet. In time, maybe. I wanted to go out but there's no place to go, and no one to drive me, and no one to bug about stuff. Shocks ang lungkot lang haha. But anyway, I'm loving the food here, at least what we have in this house. Haha. Sarap kumain oh no. T___T

And can I just say how I'm loving Facebook more than ever? It's super great that it allows us to do not just chat, but call and video call as well! I just talked to my parents this afternoon, and my sister this evening, and just now my boyfriend! We had super clear calls grabe. Waley na waley ang mga networks sa Pilpinas. XD

That's it's so far! Have a great week ahead! Good night! :D

Winter clothes hunting in the Philippines

Kebs kung dollars ung nasa picture okay?!

I'm leaving in a few days and I haven't even started filling my luggage. Searching for the right clothes to wear in US winter season isn't all that fun especially when I have to look in a tropical country. Good thing I inquired my officemates and the web for tips on where to buy thermal stuff and winter clothes so I was able to cost-plan my shopping spree to a minimum! Errr, not really.

Here's what: in cold weather, layering is key. Most of the spaces you'll be into are probably heated anyway so it'll only get super cold when you go outside. With that you would want to be able to strip off a few layers of your clothes when you're feeling warmer so yes, layering is a must unless your goal is to channel the Michelin Man throughout your trip.

So here are the essential clothes you should ready in case you're off to winter wonderland! Layering these should help keep you warm and comfy

1. Thermal underwear

Uniqlo's Heattech line is famed for being awesome heat retainers despite being tissue thin. I have yet to validate this when I get to the US but since I trust the brand and the reviews are pretty good, I got myself a couple of tops to serve as underwear. It fits closely and comfortably in fairness! It's a little costly though, but it's nice investment cos you can still wear it here.

Aside from Uniqlo, Marks & Spencers also has their line of thermal clothes. Tiangges have it too. SM department store has long johns stored in the men's section but they're pretty bulky for layering, they're great pajamas though!

2. Fleece or wool sweaters

Ukays are my favorite place to scout for pullovers cos they're really cheap, you might even score some with fleece lining which is perfect in cold weather! Aside from Ukays, we have an abundance of knitted stuff and pullovers at local department stores, just ask.

3. Coats and jackets

Down coats like these are extremely helpful in keeping you warm, plus they look good too! If you're going to be dressing for the office, you can invest in peacoats like these as well cos they look classy as hell and wouldn't leave you trembling in the cold.

Winter season isn't a reason to be out of style, keep it trendy by keeping your outermost wear beautiful. Just look at this down coat with a banging fur hood!

All of these coats and jackets I found over at Sammy Dress so be sure to check them out. They have a lot of other jackets and outerwears that will definitely catch your eye and make your winter more interesting so go ahead!

4. Scarves, bonnets, earmuffs, gloves, and socks

Small articles of clothing that make sure we're sealed tight against the cold air! In countries where winter gets really bad, you need to wrap up intensely to ensure no heat would escape your body. When your body is all wrapped up, heat tends to escape from whichever body part is most exposed to the air, that is our hands and our head, so make sure to protect those too! :)

Urbanista: A Tribute to Urban Lifestyle

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

Urbanista came out of a vision to glorify the urban lifestyle and create products that make life better for modern people in urban developments. We design for life in motion. Every product in the Urbanista portfolio is developed to serve a need for the target group - the Urbanistas. Within the tight portfolio, the offering is wide. The retail environment shall clearly show the most relevant product for each consumer. The Urbanista products are meant to be life companions. Therefore they are developed with design and colors in focus. The products should not only enhance the life of the Urbanistas with the functions, but also the looks.

Urbanista is launching in the Philippines, really soon! Familiarize yourself with the different Urbanista earphones:

SAN FRANCISCO

Balanced for music and talk Why compromise? If you’re looking for earphones for both music and phone calls, you’ve finally found them. For the everyday use for, suitable for anyone.

Features: Ergonomic design | Suitable for music and talk | Handsfree with mic | Value for money

OSLO

For simplicity seekers Made in a classic but revamped earphone design. Soft rubber ring around the earbud to create comfort and good fit.

Features: Recognized design | Fits most people | Handsfree with mic

RIO

For the urban athlete With Rio, we´re raising the bar for how really good sport earphones should sound, feel and cost. The GoFit silicone wing guarantees an ergonomic and secure fit even in the most challenging and wet circumstances. The sound is optimized with clear sound and strong bass to boost your performance with your favorite beats.

Features: GoFit silicone wing which fits securely in your ears | Water resistant (IPX5) | Handsfree with mic | Light construction

BOSTON

For freedom seeking athlete. At the gym or in the street. Every beat, clarity without compromise. Urbanista Boston sport earphones with Bluetooth gives you the freedom to really move

Features: Wireless Bluetooth connection | GoFit silicone wing fits securely in ears | Water resistant (IPX5) | Light ear buds | Handsfree with mic.

IBIZA 

For uncompromising music lovers In the studio. At the concert or club. Urbanista Ibiza high performance earphones make you feel as if you were really there. Every note, precision without compromise.

Features: Heavy bass with uncompromising clarity | Ergonomic design with GoFit for secure fit | Handsfree with volume control and mic.

MIAMI 

For the expressive music lovers Miami is a classic foldable mid-size headphone that comes in several vibrant colours. The frame’s flexibility, the soft headband and ear pads allow the headphones to rest comfortably on your ears. The Urbanista logo, carved from aluminum,

Features: Comfortable, foldable & affordable | Strong bass and clear sound | Handsfree with mic

COPENHAGEN 

For the design devotees The Urbanista crown jewel. Made in brushed aluminum in a style as sharp and fresh as your own. These premium mid-size headphones carry music with dashing clarity and tonal accuracy that’ll make your listening experience a treasure trove of musical enjoyment.

Features: Unique and exclusive aluminum design | Supreme audio clarity with dynamic bass | Soft headband with enclosed adjustability | Handsfree with mic

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I'm really looking forward to trying these out, hope they roll out demo units soon! There aren't a lot of earphone brand catering to an assortment of fits. I usually have a preference for the traditional kind of earphones or the ones similar to iPhone earbuds cos they don't fall off my ear easily and doesn't feel weird. Oh well, welcome to the Philippines Urbanista! Hope they could do a Philippine version too! Why not! Totally digging Oslo and SanFran!

Up up and away!

I'm temporarily officially quitting The Sunday Currently cos I'm bad at scheduled posts, even my Food Phase Fridays is slowly being abandoned but I swear to get back on it cos I've lot to share pa! :)

So, what's up?

I'm scheduled to leave the country next week for a 3-month business trip at our client base in the US (Minnesota). This was something I've been holding back on sharing cos nothing was final yet until last week when I was emailed some booking confirmation. I didn't want to get ahead of my excitement so I kept it a secret from this space. Plus I have a feeling this blog likes to ruin my plans haha so yeah. Have you ever felt that way with your blog too, like every life plan you've published never found its way to fruition? Hahaha haaay.

But now that it's pretty final (well, I don't have the tickets yet!), let me pour out my excitement (aka thoughts) about this trip.

Snow! I'm guessing it'll be underwhelming since most people I asked told me it's just like ice from the freezer all over the place, plus I heard winter in MN can get really bad so there's not much to love where snow is concerned. But still, I know nothing about snow, right? <3 <3 <3

It'll be my first international flight! I've never been outside the country so this excites me like crazy. It's also such a blessing that the company is shouldering all that. Even my visa application. Grabe thank God! When I was applying for a visa I was super scared of failing cos that's some 7k the company could've wasted on me, and I didn't want to let them down haha. Anyway, will be sharing my US Visa application on a separate post. ;D

Shopping. LOL I'm borrowing money from my parents cos swelday is so far and I have a pretty long list of things to buy, mainly pullovers and boots and other articles of clothing that'll help me during winter which are cheaper when bought here. Haha I get sick easily in cold weather so I frkn have to wrap myself up properly.

Food. This is something I'm constantly worried about, unless I'll be stationed in a different house, the nearest place I can get some food would be Walmart, and that's 4kms away from the staff house (accdg. to google maps). Not a distance I can leisurely walk my way too, especially during hard winter days. But I haven't searched up about their mass transit options so I hope it gets better than what's in my head haha.

Should I take my friends out? 3 months isn't really long right, but I'll be missing my birthday, Christmas, and New Year here so I'm thinking of taking select people out. But I'm broke, so I'm writing this to alert this blog. You know what to do!

Let's not forget work. With all the excitement it's easy to forget what I'm really coming there for haha. I've been performing so bad at work lately, in fact I'm supposed to do some weekend work to compensate for the frkn delays I've caused, but I got sick yesterday and I can't possibly be productive this time at the office, plus no one has emailed me yet if I needed to come in (not that I will), so I'm just gonna take this day to rest and just come super early tomorrow. Hay. I don't want to say I'm loving my work just yet cos I'm still in the training period. And as with any discipline, it's usually hard at the start, and most of the time I get anxious about not getting things right. Somehow I'm thinking if I really deserve to be sent there, cos it sounds like such a reward to be sent overseas, and I'm not even ripe for the opportunity considering tenure and technical skills haha. But. Hay. Lord. Thank you parin. XD

I will miss a lot of people. Just thinking about it makes me cry. My parents, my sister, my boyfriend. Haaaaayy. T___T;

I'm feeling sick again and I'm coughing my brains out so I'm gonna have to end this post already and go to sleep haha Good night goys and have a blessed week ahead! <3

Check out QC’s newest foodie hotspot: Four Seasons Buffet and Hotpot Cubao

Good news is in store for Quezon City—the newest foodie hotspot in town has opened its second branch at Manhattan Parkview, Araneta Center. The creators of Vikings Luxury Buffet and NIU by Vikings bring you Four Seasons Buffet and Hotpot. A restaurant that provides a customizable, fresh and healthy dining experience for celebrating special occasions, or for when you simply want to enjoy a top-notch meal.

Kick back and take in the ambiance as you enjoy one of the Philippines’ best buffets. Four Seasons Buffet and Hotpot has several impressive stations, and patrons can take their pick of their meat, seafood, vegetables, appetizers, desserts, Japanese and bar options. Indulge your imagination and make the dish of your dreams with their wide selection of broths, noodles, meat, toppings and sauces. The Cubao branch also offers a pasta station and a carving station.

For P688 for weekday lunches and P888 for weekday dinners, weekends and holidays, diners can choose from chicken, pork, fish, vegetable and crowd favorite sinigang as a soup base. Combined with their selection of noodles, decorate your soup with fresh or frozen dumplings, specialty balls, your favorite protein and choice of vegetables. Select from Sate, Szechuan, Tomato and Chinese Herbs. Amp up the flavor with the many dipping sauces available. Cook it in your personal hotpot, and experience being a chef for a day!

With so many components and combinations, the possibilities are truly endless.

Cubao’s dining scene just got a whole lot better with Four Seasons Buffet & Hotpot!

Rates: Weekday lunches - Php 688; Weekday dinners, weekends, and holidays - Php 888
Location: G/F, Manhattan Parkview, General Roxas Avenue, Araneta Center, Quezon City.
Store hours: Lunch -11AM to 2:30PM; Dinner - 5:30PM to 10PM.

Learn more about hotpot dining here, or visit http://www.fourseasonshotpot.com.ph/ for more details.

See you at Four Seasons Buffet & Hotpot!

How to use UBER on a desktop

No smartphone, no problem! You can still book a ride by using Uber's mobile site:  http://m.uber.com. It also works on your mobile browser in case you don't have the app. Yep! That's all you need. Just go to the site, log in, and book a ride!

How to use UBER on a desktop:

If you find yourself without a smartphone and need to book a ride, no worries cos you can actually access Uber using your desktop (with internet shempre).

• If you don't have an Uber account yet and want to try this piece of genius, sign up with your credit card at http://uber.com
• But if you don't have a credit card, you can still sign up using a Visa/Mastercard prepaid card, here's how I did it

Don't forget to sign up using promo codes to get free rides!

Here they are, take your pick!

• For new users, you can sign up with this promo code UBERNATICS to get free Uber credits.

• If you're registering using a BPI card, use promo code BPIRIDE to get 2 free rides worth Php 500 each (until October 17 only).

• If you're a Smart subscriber, go here to get vouchers that will give you 2 free rides worth Php 300 each! :D


Login, book, and enjoy your ride!

Open http://m.uber.com and allow location service
When your browser prompts you to enable location tracking, click Allow or Ok. This will make it easier for you select a location.

Now you may login and get a ride!
Login, select your pick-up and drop-off locations, and request for a ride! It's that easy. The interface is pretty much the same as the app so you won't get lost if you're already familiar with it. :)

EatLikeaViking All Weekends this October with Vikings’ Oktoberfest Celebration!

Unlimited pulutan? Why not! Vikings reveals new and exciting dishes perfect for Oktoberfest!

This Oktoberfest, eat and drink like a Viking! Get unlimited draft beer and Japanese sake this October at Vikings Luxury Buffet, the Philippines’ largest and fastest growing chain of buffet restaurants. Only P688 for the regular weekday lunch buffet and P888 for the regular dinner and weekend & holiday lunch/dinner buffet.

Vikings Train

Round up your barkada and loved ones to play the Vikings Train game, Vikings’ very own drink hack where beers are lined up with shots of sake placed on top. To a chorus of “sake bomb!” the player tips the first shot into the beer, which creates a domino effect. Diners can enjoy this game at half hour intervals, or create their own drink hacks such as mixing 7Up with their beer (YOU MUST TRY THIS), turning it into shandy. Hurry, there are some menu items that will only be offered during Oktoberfest. Each branch will feature special menus for the occasion, so call ahead to inquire!

Prito Trio

Patrons can look forward to pairings that go perfectly with their beer, like tequila-battered fish fillet with garlic aioli, cream cheese pretzels, crispy salmon skin, and beer battered onion rings.

For appetizers to start off the Oktoberfest mood, there will be beer scallop cream soup with caramelized onions, sausage stuffed peppers, and authentic German wiener schnitzel.

Binusog na Lechon

Balut

Go big or go home with carving entrées like sauerkraut and sausage paprikash, root beer-braised country style pork ribs, and German spaetzle.

Inihaw

For those who are looking for a more Pinoy flair for their Oktoberfest festivities, dishes like bagnet, grilled tuna jaw, dinakdakan, tuna salpicao and the classic Pinoy sisig.

Sisig

Kinilaw

Finish off your meal with a dessert like pumpkin cheesecake or black forest gateaux with cherry brandy liquor.

Visit Vikings Luxury Buffet at SM Jazz Mall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM Marikina, SM North EDSA, and SM City BF in Metro Manila; as well as at SM Lanang Premiere in Davao City.

Visit Vikings.ph for details, special rates and promos and make a reservation today!

About Vikings Luxury Buffet:

Vikings Luxury Buffet (Vikings.ph) is the Philippines' fasting growing chain of buffet restaurants offering quality international cuisine. Branches include SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City; SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City; SM City Marikina, Marikina City; SM Jazz Mall, Makati City; SM City North, Quezon City; SM City BF, Parañaque City; and SM Lanang Premier, Davao City.

NIU by Vikings (Niu.ph) is at SM Aura, Taguig City. Four Seasons Hotpot City (FourSeasonsHotPot.com.ph) is at Bldg. E, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.

Thanks for having us Vikings! :)