1. FIRST NAME? Rochelle
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?Most probably a gorgeous queen or princess…hehehe.
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?Just last weekend
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?Yeah, of course!
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?Hmm…KFC?
6. KIDS?None noh. Hello!
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOURSELF?Yeah, in a nutshell. Bwahahaha.
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL?yeah
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?Di noh. What makes you think that,genius?
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?Yeah.
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?Yeah.
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?Woolworths Cereal clusters
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?nope
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?Um, yeah.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?Magnolia Mango Ice cream
16. SHOE SIZE?Hehe. Depends on the country, depends on the brand
17. RED OR PINK?PINK
18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?Easy to provoke...
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?My family
20. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?no
21. WHAT COLOR OF PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?Black sandals from VNC
22. WHAT DID YOU EAT LAST?KFC for lunch (Paui took me there to resolve my bad mood).
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?My officemates working on their PCs
24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?Pink (hehe)
25. FAVORITE SMELL?Fruity ones and on guys, the im-fresh-from-the-shower smell
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?My boss for my evaluation
27. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO?Clean-cut, good boy, i-cant-hurt-a-fly-even-if-i-tried image
28. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?Uh-huh.
29. FAVORITE DRINK?Margarita (CM2 margarita night di ba reys? Hahaha)
30. FAVORITE SPORT?Basketball (watch-ing)
31. HAIR COLOR?Black
32. EYE COLOR?Black
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?No
34. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?Hmm…KFC hot and crispy from Malaysia
35. SCARY MOVIE OR HAPPY ENDING?Happy Ending
36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?Just My Luck (we watched on dvd and Paui was cringing everytime. Bwahahaha)
37. WHAT COLOR OF SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?white
38. SUMMER OR WINTER?Summer
39. HUGS OR KISSES?Hahahaha. HUGS! ;)
40. FAVORITE DESSERT?Ice cream…no, iced coffee with ice cream!!! :)
41. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?None
42. LEAST LIKELY to RESPOND?People not reading and those who are reading this blog. :
43. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?The Devil Wears Prada and book 4 of the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
44. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?No mouse pad. Hahaha.
45. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV?Our stupid cable is broken so now we're watching DVDs
46. What are your favorite SOUNDS?Sea crashing against the soft mounds of sand on the beach
47. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES?Beatles
48. THE FURTHEST YOU’VE BEEN FROM HOME?South Africa
49. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?Hmmmmmm……I can eat KFC for 2 weeks straight…does that count? Hahahaha.
50. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?Cebu City
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
AJA barkada
Obvious ba, medyo petiks ako. Kaya sunud-sunod ang blog entries ko…hahahaha.
Now, since I am chronicling my life here for my own pleasure, I am now going to narrate the extremely exciting and not-so-perfect-but-still-fun day at the Diamond mine.
Once our projectmates learned that we were going to a diamond mine on Saturday, you can imagine the amount and quality of the jokes hurled at Paui--- That he is planning to buy diamonds for me, people shouting at me to prepare myself to choose the best diamon I want koz he will buy it..etc etc etc. My poor, red-faced boyfriend's only weapons against such comments was a frantic 'no money, diamonds are expensive' harassed chant. Hahaha.
Anyway, that day, we went with a group of Indian colleagues, maybe they were around 15 siguro in 4 cars. Tapos Paui and I brought up the rear. In the morning,we went to Cullinan. It was a still operational diamond mine and quaint mining town with old Victorian houses seated in neat rows. We signed up on a surface tour, although most of our companions (paui included.hehe) thought we were actually going underground and kaya medyo na disappoint nung di kami nag climb down sa mining hole. Maybe it was because they handed out hard hats to us so medyo our imagination got the best of us.
Cullinan is not the biggest diamond mine in South Africa, but it is the most famous. The biggest uncut and cut diamond in the world was found here. And of course, there was a liz taylor diamond which came from here and became famous because of its cost and its wearer. There was a museum inside the mining complex so we got to take a good look at some diamonds. Frankly, the whole place looked like a cement factory. The only exciting thing there was the huge crater-like opening at the top of the mine, which served as the mine's opening.
Finally, we went to the diamond store. The diamonds in RSA are more expensive than in Dubai or India for example. Super mahal! So after drooling over diamonds we cannot afford and mercilessly torturing Paui that I wanted one (syempre girl ako,so half meant ang jokes. Bwahahaha. Sana di nagbabasa boyfriend ko dito. Pero sana basa din nya ito.hahaha), we just went to lunch at a nearby restaurant well-known to locals. Our companions spoke to each other in their native tongue. Either we were too hungry too notice, or to oblivious or used to it to even care, we actually enjoyed that meal. Hehe.
Afterwards, we went to a nearby dam to check out the scene. A lot of campers were camping on the side of the river. The men then started to compete in throwing rocks (for the life of me, di ko maalala ang pangalan). It was a macho thing I guess. Then we went to my now-favorite mall in Gauteng: Menlyn Park. First time ko manood ng IMAX movie. Admittedly, medyo boring sya dahil about whales and whale migration, pero cool pa din. Gusto ko bumalik when they are showing eqyptian myths and stuff. Hehe. Eto pics:
Now, since I am chronicling my life here for my own pleasure, I am now going to narrate the extremely exciting and not-so-perfect-but-still-fun day at the Diamond mine.
Once our projectmates learned that we were going to a diamond mine on Saturday, you can imagine the amount and quality of the jokes hurled at Paui--- That he is planning to buy diamonds for me, people shouting at me to prepare myself to choose the best diamon I want koz he will buy it..etc etc etc. My poor, red-faced boyfriend's only weapons against such comments was a frantic 'no money, diamonds are expensive' harassed chant. Hahaha.
Anyway, that day, we went with a group of Indian colleagues, maybe they were around 15 siguro in 4 cars. Tapos Paui and I brought up the rear. In the morning,we went to Cullinan. It was a still operational diamond mine and quaint mining town with old Victorian houses seated in neat rows. We signed up on a surface tour, although most of our companions (paui included.hehe) thought we were actually going underground and kaya medyo na disappoint nung di kami nag climb down sa mining hole. Maybe it was because they handed out hard hats to us so medyo our imagination got the best of us.
Cullinan is not the biggest diamond mine in South Africa, but it is the most famous. The biggest uncut and cut diamond in the world was found here. And of course, there was a liz taylor diamond which came from here and became famous because of its cost and its wearer. There was a museum inside the mining complex so we got to take a good look at some diamonds. Frankly, the whole place looked like a cement factory. The only exciting thing there was the huge crater-like opening at the top of the mine, which served as the mine's opening.
Finally, we went to the diamond store. The diamonds in RSA are more expensive than in Dubai or India for example. Super mahal! So after drooling over diamonds we cannot afford and mercilessly torturing Paui that I wanted one (syempre girl ako,so half meant ang jokes. Bwahahaha. Sana di nagbabasa boyfriend ko dito. Pero sana basa din nya ito.hahaha), we just went to lunch at a nearby restaurant well-known to locals. Our companions spoke to each other in their native tongue. Either we were too hungry too notice, or to oblivious or used to it to even care, we actually enjoyed that meal. Hehe.
Afterwards, we went to a nearby dam to check out the scene. A lot of campers were camping on the side of the river. The men then started to compete in throwing rocks (for the life of me, di ko maalala ang pangalan). It was a macho thing I guess. Then we went to my now-favorite mall in Gauteng: Menlyn Park. First time ko manood ng IMAX movie. Admittedly, medyo boring sya dahil about whales and whale migration, pero cool pa din. Gusto ko bumalik when they are showing eqyptian myths and stuff. Hehe. Eto pics:
Monday, September 25, 2006
Paui in a pink backpack... hehehe.
i am in such a prissy mood today that i felt like posting one of my fave pics... hehe.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Batchmates in BKK
It is a bit belated, but here are pics from AC batchmates' (with their better halves for some) visit in Bangkok. :)
Monday, September 11, 2006
The Break Up
I saw the movie 'The Break Up' and its unsatisfying ending reared again my cynical side which has so far hidden itself since I've had a romantic involvement recently. This cynical side now triumphantly rears its ugly head and thumps on what essentially the movie is saying --> that romantic entanglements, no matter how good it starts, no matter how long it goes on, will never have a happy ending.
Ok, so maybe I am exaggerating a bit. But come on, this two people meet, flirt, fall in love and move in together. After a couple of years, little things begin to bother them and the next thing they know is they're headed to their realtor to sell off their joint property.
To be honest, it makes me fearful somewhat. I have never been a girl who was so glossy eyed and whose head is so in the clouds that I declare whatever love I have now will last forever. No, I have always been the sort to step back and look cynically and pessimistically say 'nah, I give this 14 months tops'. My philosophy then was the more you anticipate the fall, the softer your landing becomes.
Now that I'm with Paui, I try to repress these thoughts. Yet in the corner of my mind, in the midst of my happiness, there is always that voice poking me annoyingly. It makes me think that every little mistake, every little quarrel could spell the end of the relationship. That no matter how happy we are with each other at the moment, things could change in a millisecond and we might be fighting and calling it quits. That that is just the way the Wheel turns, how the Pattern is weaved…
He says I should put more trust in him and in Him. Yet its not him I do not trust, but rather the quirkiness of Fate. ( Pink's song 'Who Knew' ). To be honest, I have so many what-ifs in my mind that I get tired just thinking about it.
A friend once advised me to just let go and enjoy the moment. I am in love. Somebody is in love with me. And we are both extremely happy which should basically be all that matters. Doubts have no place in the middle of a love affair.
But this is so hard to do, when the cynic that is me is just itching to say 'I told you so…'.
Gawd, see, I won't watch this movie again. Or maybe this is an effect of being on my own the whole weekend. Nasisiraan na ako ng bait...hehehe.
Ok, so maybe I am exaggerating a bit. But come on, this two people meet, flirt, fall in love and move in together. After a couple of years, little things begin to bother them and the next thing they know is they're headed to their realtor to sell off their joint property.
To be honest, it makes me fearful somewhat. I have never been a girl who was so glossy eyed and whose head is so in the clouds that I declare whatever love I have now will last forever. No, I have always been the sort to step back and look cynically and pessimistically say 'nah, I give this 14 months tops'. My philosophy then was the more you anticipate the fall, the softer your landing becomes.
Now that I'm with Paui, I try to repress these thoughts. Yet in the corner of my mind, in the midst of my happiness, there is always that voice poking me annoyingly. It makes me think that every little mistake, every little quarrel could spell the end of the relationship. That no matter how happy we are with each other at the moment, things could change in a millisecond and we might be fighting and calling it quits. That that is just the way the Wheel turns, how the Pattern is weaved…
He says I should put more trust in him and in Him. Yet its not him I do not trust, but rather the quirkiness of Fate. ( Pink's song 'Who Knew' ). To be honest, I have so many what-ifs in my mind that I get tired just thinking about it.
A friend once advised me to just let go and enjoy the moment. I am in love. Somebody is in love with me. And we are both extremely happy which should basically be all that matters. Doubts have no place in the middle of a love affair.
But this is so hard to do, when the cynic that is me is just itching to say 'I told you so…'.
Gawd, see, I won't watch this movie again. Or maybe this is an effect of being on my own the whole weekend. Nasisiraan na ako ng bait...hehehe.
Khup Khun Ka!
with Paui and our Thai colleagues at Giant's Peak ... (wala lang. gusto ko lng i-post.hahaha)
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Hear the Lions roar...
Finally! I got to see real live, sleek, vicious African animals! In Africa! Hehe. Labo ka ba? Kasi naman, I have been here for two months already and so far all I have seen are mountains, caves, malls or the office. I wanted to see lions and elephants and rhinos…and one Saturday I finally got my wish.
Paui took me to the Rhino and Lion Park just near the borders of Gauteng. He already went before earlier this year, but he was still sweet enough to take me there despite having to drive for a long time just to reach the place. The reserve park was located in another middle of nowhere location, but surprisingly had very good (albeit lonely) roads. So while Paui was driving, I was busy taking pics of him driving (and the scenery also, of course).
Unlike zoos, natural reserves here require you to go inside your car and drive inside the zoo. It is like you are entering this mini wilderness where all the animals are roaming free and people are the odd ones out. Our brochures held dire warnings (do not be in the vicinity of vicious animals for too long as they might attack, do not open your windows too wide, make sure your car is ready to accelerate and other comforting stuff like that).
So we saw some antelopes and goats (really elegant ones though but I forgot its name. Parang ibex) and ostriches and zebras! It was my first time to actually see a zebra and it was really great. It was as big as a pony or a small horse. Did you know that zebras are actually white and have black stripes? (and not the other way around). I swear, it was like discovery channel come to life!
Then we drove into a higher security area where all the predators are. The lions here are really majestic, unlike the fat, well fed ones at the Safari world in Bangkok. Here, you truly come to understand why they are the kings of the jungle. Standing, they almost come to my shoulders (not that I tried to stand side by side with a lion. I am just gues-timating.hehe). Then we saw some wild dogs which looked like hyenas. There was a pack of them and it was attempting to challenge the lion. Since we went during lion feeding time, there were lots of lions just lying around lazily nibbling on food (or perhaps thinking of their next meal). And I also saw a white lion couple (albino). They're very rare now. But they look so pretty. Fragile-made-of-china pretty that can only tear you to pieces. While driving around, we also saw two Rhinos just standing still, chewing grass. Wow. They really are big animals. No wonder they are part of the Top Five.
We went on a tour on the Wonder Cave as well. It was the second largest cave in South Africa and they say people could have played professional rugby in it. As the guide discussed about stalacmites and stalagmites, how they have formed over years of water dripping from the ceiling, Paui and I had our pics taken….
My African adventures just seem to be piling up. Now all I need to go to is Krueger Park and Capetown...
Paui took me to the Rhino and Lion Park just near the borders of Gauteng. He already went before earlier this year, but he was still sweet enough to take me there despite having to drive for a long time just to reach the place. The reserve park was located in another middle of nowhere location, but surprisingly had very good (albeit lonely) roads. So while Paui was driving, I was busy taking pics of him driving (and the scenery also, of course).
Unlike zoos, natural reserves here require you to go inside your car and drive inside the zoo. It is like you are entering this mini wilderness where all the animals are roaming free and people are the odd ones out. Our brochures held dire warnings (do not be in the vicinity of vicious animals for too long as they might attack, do not open your windows too wide, make sure your car is ready to accelerate and other comforting stuff like that).
So we saw some antelopes and goats (really elegant ones though but I forgot its name. Parang ibex) and ostriches and zebras! It was my first time to actually see a zebra and it was really great. It was as big as a pony or a small horse. Did you know that zebras are actually white and have black stripes? (and not the other way around). I swear, it was like discovery channel come to life!
Then we drove into a higher security area where all the predators are. The lions here are really majestic, unlike the fat, well fed ones at the Safari world in Bangkok. Here, you truly come to understand why they are the kings of the jungle. Standing, they almost come to my shoulders (not that I tried to stand side by side with a lion. I am just gues-timating.hehe). Then we saw some wild dogs which looked like hyenas. There was a pack of them and it was attempting to challenge the lion. Since we went during lion feeding time, there were lots of lions just lying around lazily nibbling on food (or perhaps thinking of their next meal). And I also saw a white lion couple (albino). They're very rare now. But they look so pretty. Fragile-made-of-china pretty that can only tear you to pieces. While driving around, we also saw two Rhinos just standing still, chewing grass. Wow. They really are big animals. No wonder they are part of the Top Five.
We went on a tour on the Wonder Cave as well. It was the second largest cave in South Africa and they say people could have played professional rugby in it. As the guide discussed about stalacmites and stalagmites, how they have formed over years of water dripping from the ceiling, Paui and I had our pics taken….
My African adventures just seem to be piling up. Now all I need to go to is Krueger Park and Capetown...
Gold Reef Date
Hanging coasters, upside-down rides, a huge ferris wheel…what else can a girl ask for? Well, a hyperactive girl not past her childhood fancies anyway..hehehe.
One weekend Paui took me to Gold Reef City. It was once a gold mine which has stopped operating since they stopped getting gold from the ground, I guess and turned the place into a children's haven: an amusement park. The only other park I have been to is Enchanted Kingdom and the rides weren't even scary. And Genting in Malaysia (which was fun but mostly kiddie rides except for the Superman ride). But this park…it has 4 roller coasters all of different varieties, and it has the only hanging roller coaster called the Anaconda. Its ferris wheel ride is so high, it dwarfs the one standing at Suan Lum Park in Bangkok. It also offered underground tours several miles deep into the mine which of course, Paui and I jumped at the opportunity to do so.
Hmm…my fave ride has to be this Jolie Train. It was a roller coaster train with no seatbelts and only a bar for protection. It elevates the trains so high that the turns and the twirls become even faster almost as if you were really falling. Hahaha. And Paui was on the wrong side, so medyo napisat ko sa akong seat. Pero fun! And of course the Anaconda. We waited in line for like 45 freaking minutes for this ride. Exhilirating ride. If there weren't too many people, I would have gone on again.
Then just before leaving the park, we went on a 45 minute tour of the underground Gold mine. It was interesting as the guide explained to us how they get gold and stuff, how water is filling up fast in the lower levels making the mine unworkeable. They even demonstrated the drilling thing they do…like a jackhammer, only they quickly spray water to settle the dust. Nabangga pa ulo ni Paui on a pipe that we didn’t see in the dark. Thank God we were wearing trusty hard hats (with malaking flashlight bag..astiiiggg) so di naman sya na injured.
Another fun day. Another fun date with Paui. Hehehe.
One weekend Paui took me to Gold Reef City. It was once a gold mine which has stopped operating since they stopped getting gold from the ground, I guess and turned the place into a children's haven: an amusement park. The only other park I have been to is Enchanted Kingdom and the rides weren't even scary. And Genting in Malaysia (which was fun but mostly kiddie rides except for the Superman ride). But this park…it has 4 roller coasters all of different varieties, and it has the only hanging roller coaster called the Anaconda. Its ferris wheel ride is so high, it dwarfs the one standing at Suan Lum Park in Bangkok. It also offered underground tours several miles deep into the mine which of course, Paui and I jumped at the opportunity to do so.
Hmm…my fave ride has to be this Jolie Train. It was a roller coaster train with no seatbelts and only a bar for protection. It elevates the trains so high that the turns and the twirls become even faster almost as if you were really falling. Hahaha. And Paui was on the wrong side, so medyo napisat ko sa akong seat. Pero fun! And of course the Anaconda. We waited in line for like 45 freaking minutes for this ride. Exhilirating ride. If there weren't too many people, I would have gone on again.
Then just before leaving the park, we went on a 45 minute tour of the underground Gold mine. It was interesting as the guide explained to us how they get gold and stuff, how water is filling up fast in the lower levels making the mine unworkeable. They even demonstrated the drilling thing they do…like a jackhammer, only they quickly spray water to settle the dust. Nabangga pa ulo ni Paui on a pipe that we didn’t see in the dark. Thank God we were wearing trusty hard hats (with malaking flashlight bag..astiiiggg) so di naman sya na injured.
Another fun day. Another fun date with Paui. Hehehe.
Drakensberg Affair
On my first weekend with Paui here in South Africa, we went with a group of Thai friends into the mountain village of Drakensberg. I admit my expectations were quite basic : see snow! Hehehe. The temperature was freezing cold, even here in Midrand, so there was basis for my hopes for frolicking in the sheets of soft ice in the mountains in Drakensberg.
With two cars in convoy, it was a 7 hour drive before we reached the cottage we were renting. It was only 630 pm when we arrived but it was already dark. And as usual, no lampposts on the sides of the road so pitch blackness everywhere. We managed to find our 'hut' though. It was in the middle of nowhere, a lonely stone cottage straight smack in the middle of a huge farmland. In the distance, rose the daunting black forms of the Drakensberg mountain ranges.
Our goal was to have a relaxing weekend, so instead of sporty activities like horseback riding , we opted for the laid back activities of sampling the local dishes in semi-famous local pubs and restaurants. We also went to the top of Sani Pass,but couldn’t go further than the border into Lesotho as our companions forgot their passports. It was tough luck as Paui and I brought ours and we really wanted to go into this other African country. It was a once in a lifetime chance. Sayang tlaga…
With two cars in convoy, it was a 7 hour drive before we reached the cottage we were renting. It was only 630 pm when we arrived but it was already dark. And as usual, no lampposts on the sides of the road so pitch blackness everywhere. We managed to find our 'hut' though. It was in the middle of nowhere, a lonely stone cottage straight smack in the middle of a huge farmland. In the distance, rose the daunting black forms of the Drakensberg mountain ranges.
Our goal was to have a relaxing weekend, so instead of sporty activities like horseback riding , we opted for the laid back activities of sampling the local dishes in semi-famous local pubs and restaurants. We also went to the top of Sani Pass,but couldn’t go further than the border into Lesotho as our companions forgot their passports. It was tough luck as Paui and I brought ours and we really wanted to go into this other African country. It was a once in a lifetime chance. Sayang tlaga…
On the drive home, we stopped by this reserve called Giant's Cup or Giant's Peak or something like that. We took a hike up to see old cave drawings made by cavemen dwellers before. It was fascinating to say the least, to actually be able to see cave drawings and see how they lived and the stuff they use --- information we have only read in textbooks before.
All in all, it was a fun weekend. I didn’t see snow but I 
did see sheets of ice early in the morning.hehe. And we even had a South african-Thai Braai the night before with our Thai colleagues and new thai friends. And I did get to spend this vacation time with Paui... :)
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