Update: I can reach my toes!

March Challenge | Practice Yoga at least 5 times a week.

Results: 

The honest update? I could not consistently practice yoga 5 times a week. How do I feel? Definitely not bad! I had no regular exercise before taking this challenge on except a once-a-week dance rehearsal. Now, I practice yoga 2x per week minimum. There have been times when I did it every other day or three days in a row. Seeing good changes in my body, being more aware of my breathing and posture and waking up better are the few things that have made me look forward to continuing this challenge. And for a girl who has never been flexible, I had a life altering revelation a few days ago that I can finally reach my toes! I was never able to reach my toes.

What's next?

Yoga classes in a studio might take a back seat for now as I am saving for a vacation. I will be continuing my practice with the help of amazing yogis on YouTube. If you have any favourite yoga videos, please share them with us! You can throw in a cardio workout suggestion too!

IJ

....

Upcoming April Challenge: Wake up at 6 am

Baseline: Current wake up times are between 6:40-7:10 am

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

WARNING: This place is not recommended for cheapskates just like myself. 'kidding. :)

The last day in Thailand was probably the most expensive one. My sister and I went shopping at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. To get to the docking area (where the boats to the said market were found), we rented a car (THB 5,000.00 all-in for one day). It was an hour and half ride from Bangkok. When we got there, we hopped on a speedboat. The boat ride supposedly cost THB500.00 per head, but we got it as a freebie from our pricey car rental.

We bought some herbal teas and spices. The prices were quite steep and our expert haggling skills were not working well on Thai vendors. We also shelled out for a painting for a price I had never imagined paying for. I thought it was a painful purchase but it was all worthwhile after I met the painter myself.

The ride (and shopping) lasted for an hour. What made us really curious was not the merchandise sold around, but the water we were cruising on. It was definitely murky and questionably sanitary yet it didn't smell stenchy. It made us think how incredible the water/disposal/sewage system was.

If you plan to go Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and if you are a frugal traveler like me, always remember that you're going - not for the unwise shopping spree but - for the experience. Believe me, you won't regret splurging every cent on this one.

First Blog Challenge Accepted.

Funny how I confidently accepted IJ's blog challenge in a heartbeat then suddenly finding myself cowardly thinking twice about it right after. As much as I love tackling challenges like a boss, I have an innate aversion to change. The feeling somehow sprouts from the fact that I learn frustratingly slow and with that, breaking old habits and incorporating new ones are impossible pursuits. Yet almost every wise man (and woman just like IJ) I've met in my life has always reminded me that to become a better version of myself, changes must be made. I'm glad IJ just forced me into doing this by announcing it online. I don't have a choice but to comply, do I? (haha.)

and now that I have come to terms with the need of some changes, I would like to share to you my list. The items may not be considered as "habits". They are important and not-really-important tasks I've been putting off for a very long time. As to why I have chosen to do them, I will explain in my monthly posts. :)

March: Take Muay Thai classes at least twice a week.

April: No fastfood for a month (Oh no!!)

May: Be in the office 10 minutes before the time.

June: Declutter closet and reduce clothes by 15% per week.

July: Social Media Blackout for a month.

August: (fluently) speak 10 Spanish sentences/expressions.

September: Make an investment plan. Implement.

October: Finish a book or two.

November: Make someone happy each week.

December: Travel solo.

Let the challenge begin.

(PS. Yen, I've checked out zenhabits.net and now, I'm hooked! Thanks for sharing this.)

Our First Blog Challenge

Hola everyone! I'm excited to share a blog challenge that I will be asking Honey to do with me. I actually haven't asked so she will know once she reads this post (Hi Hon! Lol). Lately, I have been reading a lot from Leo Babauta's blog, zenhabits.net. Every end of the year, he shares his list of 12 habits that he wants to develop in the coming year. It's like New Year's resolutions only that you focus on one habit every month for "maximum effectiveness" or so he claims. This isn't exactly a new idea but I am greatly inspired by Leo and will certainly be glad to try it nonetheless. I know it's too late for New Year's resolutions but it's never too late for change! Since there is nothing like online bragging to get a kick in the a**, I am sharing my list starting March until December of this year and would like to invite Honey to make and share her own list. We'd be perfect accountability buddies! And just to be really accountable, we should post at least one entry each month about how we are doing (or how we did) with each item on our list. And it can be ANYTHING we want that will help us in any way. What do you think Hon? I know you like challenges so I'm assuming it's a yes. Haha! Here's my list:

1. March:  Practice Yoga at least 5 days a week

2. April: Wake up at 6am on weekdays

3. May: Mindfully listen to someone when conversing

4. June: Read one chapter of a good book daily

5. July: Read one blog entry in Italian daily

6. August: Write one paragraph (10lines) daily

7. September: Eat 1 vegetarian meal daily 

(Okay, seafood and dairy products allowed but no red meat.)

8. October: Declutter for 15 minutes daily

9. November: Meditate 10 minutes daily

10. December: Know one Japanese character daily

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.

Laslas.

I tell you. There are a few things more painful than a broken heart. I've been through that sort of tragedy many a times yet still, each time seems more painful than the last. Sometimes, the stabbing hurt on the chest is too much that it feels like I'm dying. But before we go morbid and end up talking about death, why not we tackle on ways to deal with this unfortunate event.

Every girl (or boy) done wrong knows that nothing can get one through this phase better than LASLAS music. The term 'laslas' is Cebuano slang for 'suicide'. Yup, 'suicide' music can - one way or another - save lives, better than bawling-till-eyes-pop-out-of-the-sockets and drinking-like-a-fish sprees. It can also empathize better than people (well, sometimes).

But anyway, before I start telling you stories of my heartaches, let's go through the songs I recommend for the brokenhearted (and for those who share the same taste of music - cough*emo-angst* with me).

1. Breakeven (The Script)

   Believe it or not, I have just recently discovered this song (loser!). I like it that it doesn't have that depressing tune and beat, unlike mostly every hurt song. 

   LASLAS factor: (I have said these exact words to someone.) "What am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay." It's painful to see the love of your life move on gracefully while you're still back in Square One trying to pick up the pieces. 

   
   
   
   
2. Don't Speak (No Doubt)

   But of course, what's a suicide list without No Doubt. This has been my favorite since I was 11. 

   LASLAS factor: For the people stuck in denial stage. 'kidding! "Don't speak. I know what you're saying. So please stop explaining. Don't tell me 'cause it hurts."

   
   
   
   
3. I Go Crazy (DHT) 

   This song has countless revivals but this one's my favorite.

   LASLAS Factor: Your life is finally back on track. And just when you thought you've already moved on after 5 long months, you bump into him/her at your favorite coffee shop. He says 'hi' and you feel you've slipped back to brokenness. Dern.

   
   
   
   
4. Because of You (Kelly Clarkson)

   This beautiful song was introduced to me by a friend, who - at the time- was going through some unrequited love situation. A few months later, it became my own personal theme song. Haha.

   LASLAS Factor: This is the song you sing at the peak of pain. It sums up everything a broken heart is all about.

   
   
   
   
5. You Ought to Know (Alanis Morissette)

   If you're a fan, you'll agree when I say that Alanis is the Queen of Angst. 

   LASLAS Factor: This is for those who are in the ANGER stage. If singing - and half-screaming - your furious heart out is your thing, then this one's for you. 

   
   
   
   
6. The Blower's Daughter (Damien Rice)

   I came to know this song from the movie Closer. I was instantly in love with it, despite its sad, sad melody. The lyrics are oh-so-perfect, I.cannot.even.

   LASLAS Factor: But anyone can have a different interpretation for this song. Personally, I think it's mainly about the delicate transition phase between holding on and (trying to, at least) letting go.  

   
   
   
   
7. I will always love you (Whitney Houston)

   This is everyone's favorite KTV/Singing Contest pick because of its "birit" styling.

   LASLAS Factor: There are things that are just not meant to last, no matter how perfect they seem to be. It also holds true when it comes to love. Sometimes, people break up not because they don't love each other, but because they both know that such relationship will impede their growth as separate individuals and thus, won't work in the future. (speaking in behalf of my past experiences. ahem.)

   
   
   
   
8. Come Back to Me (David Cook)

   This is send-off song of some sort. 

   LASLAS Factor: It's bluntly about waiting for someone who might not come back.

   Okay, I'm too harsh. The whole problem starts with the lover who begins questioning his/her identity and consequentially needs a timeout to find him/herself alone. So the other lover sets him/her free, with the hope that they will be together again, once the whole identity crisis is solved.

   Okay. I suck at explaining things. Haha. 

   
   
   
   
9. Linger (The Cranberries)

   I am seriously thinking of making this my wedding march song because it sounds stellar when played by a string quartet. Haha. 

   LASLAS Factor: For those in the everything-reminds-me-of-you phase.

   
   
   
   
10. Wrecking Ball (Miley Cyrus)

    Oh please. Despite the nudity (which I find acceptable and artistic) and the licking, we all love this song.

    LASLAS Factor: Though I rarely find impressive poetry nowadays, this song passed my breakup song standards. (Never mind the video.) The song is so emotional and relevant. If this had been composed decades before, it would still be a hit.

    
    

Phew. Going through that playlist somehow got my spirits down. Well, that's the whole point of the music. It understands and shares the pain and suffering. However, its role ends there. It should not become a permanent life anthem. 

So after the LASLAS period, get up and get some sunshine (and whole new playlist). Time to move on and be happy!