Kelly Clarkson - Dark Side

There's a place that I know

It's not pretty there and few have ever gone

If I show it to you now,

Will it make you run away?

Or will you stay,

Even if it hurts?

Even if I try to push you out,

Will you return?

And remind me who I really am

Please remind me who I really am

Everybody's got a dark side

Do you love me?

Can you love mine?

Nobody's a picture perfect

But we're worth it

You know that we're worth it

Will you love me?

Even with my dark side?

Looking for Alaska

I'm so glad I finally decided to pick up this John Green book!

Looking for Alaska is so compelling for me that it made me want to read through the pages really, really fast just so I can figure out if they were able to find Alaska (or when I was still on the early pages, so I can know what exactly happened that made them go looking for her in the first place).

I liked the concept of having a Before and After part, which totally leaves the part between still as enigmatic as Alaska Young, which, I believe, is the whole point of it.

All the questions left unanswered after Alaska's death has me completely racking my brains out, too, along with Pudge and the Colonel. I wanted to understand, too, because personally, I live for stories that recount details of someone's life, of events that had happened to them. Things that would make it all make sense. Because when you get to that point where all of it just clicks, it feels astoundingly wonderful.

But there was one question that I had my own answer to:

"How will I ever get out of this labyrinth?"

Thinking of life as labyrinth/maze is a fascinating idea, because I presume that at some point in every person's life, one gets that nagging feeling of being stuck. He goes on figuring why or how or when or what he did exactly to arrive at that circumstance. And then, there'd be moments when he'd think he'd gotten out because everything suddenly feels fine, that he is in this great place right now. Of course, it's only temporary relief until he makes a wrong turn once more. And repeat.

Finally, somewhere down the line, he is finally lead onto the end of the maze, onto the way out. At last, freedom! That's when he realizes that every single event he had encountered inside the labyrinth had made him who he is, that it had all been significant to his life, whether good or bad. And this is usually when it is time to go...

So if you ask me, I would not want to get out of the labyrinth until it is time for me to do so. In accordance to my faith in God, I continue to believe in the philosophy that everything happens for a reason.

Alas, trying to look for Alaska has led me to looking for answers to questions I have long before answered. It's the kind of read that will continue to stay with you for a long time. I can't wait until I shake this feeling off and incidentally stumble upon this book once more and end up just repeating the process.

(5 out of 5 stars)

Singapore 2012: Resorts World Sentosa (Part 1)

One of the places we kept coming back to while in Singapore was Resorts World Sentosa for the obvious fact that one cannot simply go around the whole place within a single day.

On our first trip there, we went sweets shopping at Hershey's and Candylicious. I wanted to just grab all the candy and chocolates and live happily ever after! Haha!

Then we took photos in front of the Universal Studios globe! (Our actual USS trip was scheduled for another day)

We also headed to the Maritime Experiential Museum & Aquarium (MEMA)!

The MEMA houses a variety of exhibits like the Jewel of Muscat, a full-sized replica of a 9th-century dhow, which was a state gift from the Omani Government to Singapore.

There's also The Souk, which features different Asian cultures focusing on maritime trading. What's so fun about this museum was that there were a lot of interactive games to keep you interested!

Exhibit A: An interactive trading game

Exhibit B: An interactive game where you must take your ship to the finish line
but then a typhoon comes! :O

I was even able to make my own pottery! So cool! Obviously, we spent a large amount of time inside the MEMA. We didn't even notice the time passing by.

My own "Goblet of Fire"

Finally, there's this really cool attraction called the Typhoon Theatre!

Experience the wrath of the sea in the Typhoon Theatre, a 360-degree multimedia theatre that takes visitors on a perilous voyage on board a 9th-century Chinese junk.  Laden with cargo, the ship runs into a storm. The sea roars, the skies darken and the ship rolls, pitches, turns and finally sinks. At the end, the ship’s passengers find themselves in the depths of the ocean, up close with the shipwreck.

Not only was it a 360-degree experience, but it was also in 4D, so when the typhoon came, we felt the rain and the cold breeze! And by the time the ship has sunk, we didn't realize that we went down with it until my friend pointed out that the door in which we came in was already above us then (our marker was the exit sign on the door). It was really fun so if you decide to visit, I suggest that you buy a ticket inclusive of the Typhoon Theatre show!

Singapore 2012: Day 1

I'm still so glad I chose a Singapore trip as a graduation present from my brothers. I had a really fun time during my 9-day stay and it was a very nice use of what would be my last vacation time before I surrendered myself to the corporate world. Hahaha!

The very first day of my touring Singapore was probably the most tiring! We went to Sands SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands hotel, but before that, we had lunch at the Singapore Food Trail and took pictures in front of the Singapore Flyer.

To our surprise, while walking around MBS, we saw a preview of the Harry Potter Exhibition! (My trip ended on May 27 so I wasn't able to catch the opening of the exhibit, which was June 2nd)

In front of the Singapore Flyer :)

My friends and I at Sands SkyPark at the peak of noon! The sun was too bright hence the squinting + awkward smile

View of the ArtScience Museum (which we later visited for the Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal exhibit!) from SkyPark

The Giant Knight which Ron rode from the giant Wizard Chess from Book 1! (Sadly, this & Umbridge's clothes and sample proclamation were the only previews there were. But I'm glad we got to take pictures!)

Inside the huge Louis Vuitton store/islet at Marina Bay!

Marina Bay Sands Hotel behind us :)

After spending time at the ArtScience Museum and marveling at the Andy Warhol exhibit (which hopefully I can blog about separately because it was really amazing!), we walked some more as we crossed the Helix Bridge.

Next up: Resorts World Sentosa!

Norah Jones - Happy Pills

How does it feel, oh how does it feel to be you right now, dear?

Turning 21

I celebrated my 21st birthday in Singapore with my brother and sister-in-law and a couple friends who came with me on the trip (which I will write about in detail in another entry). It was the first time I didn't celebrate with my parents, or my girlfriends, since for the last 3 years, we had always gotten together for my birthday. It was different but it was fun, mainly because I was still able to enjoy my day with family and friends, even though only a small number of them were there with me.

I had my birthday dinner at Marché Restaurant, a Swiss place, which is probably one of my favorite places I've eaten in Singapore, besides local ones. I had the savory crepe with roasted chicken filling and it was so good! I also got to try the rosti, a Swiss potato dish, among other delicious food on our table. Those are probably what I'll be coming back for! And their sumptuous desserts, too!

After dinner, we already headed home since my friends were to leave for Manila very early the next morning. We stayed up until they had to leave, that was, of course, after I blew my candles out and opened their presents for me.

(1) A keychain with Rihanna's 'R' logo; (2) Shirt printed with a Rihanna quote ("It's tougher to be vulnerable than to actually be tough."); (3) A bottle of Rihanna's fragrance, Reb'l Fleur

It's funny how they know how much appreciative I am of anything Rihanna-related. Hehe.

Looking at these photos, I can't help but get nostalgic and look back at my previous birthdays. Like what my friend, Ina, said, it seems just like yesterday when it was my 18th birthday she was documenting! I am starting to get old, indeed! But with age comes wisdom, as they say. And I'm so glad and thankful that I get to live my life the way I want to (still with certain limitations, but those are a given), that I get to experience such wonderful things at a young age.

I will soon be starting a new chapter in my life -- yes, the part where I officially become a member of the adult world -- and although I am slightly anxious, I simply can't wait! I am looking forward to new experiences, new friends, new mistakes (hopefully not so much of these!), and most importantly, new lessons in life.