The Grand Palace+Wat Pho

Fascinating architecture at the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. It was undeniably amazing, no kidding, even bordering on flashy (haha!). But then, I could not help but feel alienated with all the grandeur. I guess I was looking for a familiar sight or something, anything I could relate to. There was none.

Strolling along the majestic structure, with swarms of tourists, did not stop me from being lonely and homesick. Bangkok was a festive and exciting spectacle. I know I said it was love at first serving of pad thai, but the Philippines - with its raw beauty and warm, funny people - would always be my first great love. #itsmorefuninthephilippines pa rin!

Ta Prohm, Siem Reap, Cambodia

I had never heard of Ta Prohm until a friend told me about it earlier this year. He said it was one of the places I should not miss. So, I made sure our tuktuk driver would drop us off right after Angkor Wat.

And true enough, when I got there, I was like, "take all my money!". It was the best- much, much better than Angkor Wat - as far as my opinion was concerned. There was something about the marriage between architecture/or what is left of and nature that sparked my being. It definitely felt like I was transported somewhere magical.

Before and After Twenty-something.

How I wish I could show the world a more decent or glamorous photo of their glorious childhood, but this is the only existing picture of the young HC and IJ (unless IJ is hiding more incriminating pictures. I'd die.). Anyway, meet the heroines of this blog. 

(blurred on purpose) Oct 1999

Once upon in 4th grade, two awkward girls found each other in Glee Club. They both worshiped Les Miserables and Miss Saigon and had a crush on a certain Kuya Sean. Haha. They also love to write (on paper, on chalkboards, on any surface) as well. Their combined imaginative forces had created (award-winning. haha) scripts for major school plays (twice! I think.).

At times, they would write about the future (like some 10 year prophecy) and would compare notes after. They had talked about their dreams. They vowed to travel the world after finishing school, to have fabulous jobs and to rule the universe.

~

And about 10 years after,

May 2010

IJ and I (HC) still are hardcore musical/theatre fans. We still have a lot boy ( and girl!) crushes. We keep blogs (to satisfy our sporadic writing fixation). And yes, we have begun to conquer the world through travel (maybe, just backpacking trips here and there). Not much has really changed except that we are now GROWNUPS with GROWNUP problems. Okay, so we have matured a whole lot. But the thing about IJ and I is that we can always tune into our awkward-yet-cheery-girl-from-14-years-ago selves whenever we are together or when we talk thru Skype. :)

So what about the fabulous jobs? And world domination? Well, let's find out soon, shall we?

-HC