Travels What To Do In Boracay 1:36 PM Boracay is famous for it's powdery white sand, clear pristine water, epic nightlife, and activities that let you explore the island and enjoy your vacation. Thus, this small island has become a favorite summer getaway for foreigners and locals alike. My friends and I went there to experience one of the country's must visit places. We were not disappointed. I personally had a great time. I was also amazed that I was able to enjoy, explore and spend less than I expected. Our Experience We stayed in Boracay Travelodge Beach Resort for 4 days and 3 nights for a whopping 2,759 Php for 5 pax. It's an affiliate of La Carmela de Boracay, so we had our free breakfast buffet at La Carmela, and we were given pool passes to use La Carmela's swimming pool. Jomar, our tour guide whom we just met there, gave us a good price for each activity we tried. Plus he was a good joker, so he really did a great job entertaining us. I'd recommend him to anyone who wants to explore the island. You may call him at 09154072687. Let me recommend activities we tried in Boracay. Note that the rates of the activities change without prior notice, depending on the season, and on how much you negotiate/agree upon. See Random Pictures While Exploring Boracay (Click individual image to view in full size) What To Do In Boracay Island hopping and snorkeling 1,300 Php + 200 equipment fee = 1,500 Php (we paid 300 Php each since there were 5 of us) vendor in the middle of the sea, which according to Jomar has free wifi. ha ha! Enjoy fresh seafood We had seafood "paluto" at D'Talipapa on our second day. Maya-maya - 350 Php/kilo Medium-sized Prawns - 550/2 kilos Paluto fee - 140/kilo ATV + Dream Land + Trick Museum 1,500 Php package (for 5 pax) I personally enjoyed ATV more than anything else while in Boracay. I now understand why men love the speed. It's exhilarating! this cycling activity is the scariest thing i tried on the island. not for the acrophobic. Unli Photo Shoot inside the Trick Art Museum (click here for more Trick Art Photos) Parasailing Solo - 2,000 Php Pair - 1,500 Php you need to sign a waiver before you sail on air We didn't try helmet diving and other island activities anymore, but we definitely enjoyed the food, the water, the laid back feeling, the night life, and the view. Henna Tattoo 100 Php - 250 Php, depending on the size and design of the tattoo. We had our Henna Tattoos done at Tinta Tattoo. Hair Braid 100 Php - 250 Php Jonah's fresh fruit shake Must try these! The night life! There are restaurants and hotels serving buffet from 230 Php - 450 Php. The island is very much alive at sundown. The view is of course reason enough to visit Boracay and to keep coming back to the place. It's simply amazing. I didn't want to leave! I'm definitely coming back. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Travels Trick Art Museum Inside Happy Dream Land, Boracay 12:58 PM We enjoyed the unlimited picture taking at the Trick Art Museum inside The Happy Dream Land after our ATV trip. (Click on individual photos to view in full size) Trick Art Museum Inside Happy Dream Land, Boracay Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Life Lessons Replace Toxic Action With Terrific Action 7:06 AM But one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:13-14 Replace Toxic Action With Terrific Action Toxic Action is the result of following your toxic feelings. When let your anger, depression, anxiety, and other negative feelings get the better of you, you act in a toxic way. You lash out, you do irrational things, you become suicidal at some point, and you act in a destructive way to simple and shallow things. The antidote to toxic feelings is terrific acting. When you change and control your action, you change and control your emotions. There are days when you don't feel like doing good, when you are discouraged, and when you just want to explode. The best thing to do to counter these feelings, is to continue to do good anyway. Smile anyway, show up anyway, be happy anyway. Easier said than done, but it works (believe me, I'm talking from experience). Here are some points from Bro. Alvin Barcelona: Even when you don't feel like doing the right thing, just do the right thing anyway. Sooner or later, you'll begin to like doing it. Even when you don't feel like getting up from your bed, get up from your bed anyway. Sooner or later, you'll find yourself up, awake, and alive! Even when you don't feel like going to work, go to work anyway. Sooner or later, you'll find yourself working and loving your work! Even when you don't feel like loving your husband or your wife, love him / love her anyway. Sooner or later, you'll love loving him, you’ll love loving her. Even when you don't feel like praying, pray anyway. Sooner or later, you'll love praying and you’ll find out prayer Works! Even when you don't feel like worshipping, worship anyway. Raise your hands anyway. Sing anyway. Sooner or later, you'll love worshipping God. Be consistent in doing what is right, even when you feel exactly the opposite. Then you'll be able to change and control your emotions. From The Feast Detox Series, Talk #3: Toxic Actions Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Health & Wellness Detox From Negative Thoughts 12:10 PM Men are disturbed not by the things that happen, but by their opinion of the things that happen. -Epictetus Detox From Negative Thoughts Your imagination is the remote control of your emotions. That's the big message. It's all in the mind. We often hear that. This is because our thinking produces our reality. When we think about something repeatedly for a long time, it affects our emotions. Our imagination, affects us in a huge way. The way we perceive things dictates our actions, our decisions, and in turn affects our future and our lives. Whether the situation we are in is hopeful or not, whether our problems are big or irrelevantly small, whether we can surpass life's test or not, it is all up to our perception. We will always encounter toxic situations. It's inevitable. But, we can always detoxify from it. First is by taking a step back and looking at things from a third person's perspective. This one works for me. Every time I catch myself so focused on an issue, I take a step back and look at it like I would watch a movie scene. Once I detach myself from it or I try to be objective, I see things clearly, I can think of a way to resolve it, and eventually detoxify from it. Second, change the scene from your mind. Change how you see things. Change your take on something. Oftentimes, when we change the way we look at a situation, we change our feelings about it. We create things in our minds first, and then through our actions. Positive thoughts, obviously create positive outcome and emotions, just as negative thoughts create positive outcome and emotions. Your imagination is the remote control of your emotions. Control your imagination. It's the most powerful tool of the mind. 2nd part of Detox series at The Feast: Detox From Negative Thoughts See also: Detox From Negative Feelings Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Health & Wellness Detox From Toxic Feelings 11:47 AM What you can feel, you can heal. The reason most of us get sick is because we poison ourselves with negative thoughts and emotions. We need to detox from toxic feelings. Every sickness brings a message. Our body is telling us something's wrong which is why some people get depression. Science agrees that emotions affect our total wellness: Hopelessness causes lung problems. Probably. Sometimes when you feel down you find it hard to breathe. Rigidity causes migraine. When you want something done to the last detail and it does not come to be, it gives you terrible terrible headache, doesn't it? Anger causes insomnia. Aggressiveness causes gastric ulcers. Anxiety causes digestive problems and skin problems. So, how do we get rid of toxic feelings? Detox From Toxic Feelings 1. Feel your feelings. Don't deny it. The more you deny it, the more it will eat you up. There's a difference between experiencing and expressing your feelings though. There are times when you feel like killing someone out of hate, but it's another thing to express it. That's where owning your feelings comes in. If you're sad, happy, scared or mad, you need to recognize that you are. Feeling your feelings is showing love to yourself. It's recognizing and valuing how you feel. Emotions are teachers. It teaches us about ourselves. Why do we get angry or why do we worry about something? Why do we get hurt? Maybe because we have an inner wound. Or maybe because there's an insecurity within us that we need to heal. Emotions are healers. What you can feel, you can heal. Once you know what's giving you such feelings, you will know what to do about it or how to avoid feeling it. You will only find the solution to the problem if you know what the real problem is. 2. Own your emotions. Don't let your emotions own you or it will control your life. It's amazing to know that we can actually control how we feel. We can let ourselves worry, get mad or feel down or we can choose to be happy and grateful. 3. Control your emotions. Emotion is said to be an energy in motion. So when you feel sad, energize to reflect. Reflect on the things in your life, get in touch with you inner self. When you're mad, energize righteousness. I know it's easier said than done. I for one find it hard to divert my attention when I am angry because I seldom feel it. I'm unfamiliar with how to deal with it. So what I do is write about it (writing is a good therapy), and not let anger overwhelm me. When you're glad, energize to serve. Transfer your gladness by reaching out to those in need. When scared, energize caution. Being scared is our brains' way of warning us from danger or from something unfamiliar. We can't control how things happen around us, but we have the last say on what to do with it. We can cleanse our body from the toxins of negative emotions if we allow ourselves to. Modern medicine is a huge help in healing our sickness, but it only can work with the physical. Getting into the root of our sickness is more important. Our feelings play a major role in our health. Don't be a slave of your feelings. Detox from toxic feelings by owning your feelings and being the master of your emotions. Detox from The Feast talk. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
Stories I've Moved On 10:50 PM I've long stopped hoping for a change. I've long accepted the truth. I've moved on. From that horrific and dreadful day you left me in the middle of the storm, I've moved on. I've come a long way. I've never been better. Moving on from day one wasn't a walk in the park. I crawled. You should have seen me. You would have been proud of what you've done. Every day, I would drag myself. I'd get up heavily, act as normally as I could. I would plaster a smile on my face, and pretend everything's alright while I was dying inside. I was bleeding non-stop. You cut me deep. I've picked up the pieces, no thanks to you. I don't know where I was getting all those superhuman strength that got me to where I am today. Away from you and your memory, away from your lies and your bullshit. It's been a long time since I've stopped waiting for an apology, or a proper explanation which I so deserve. I've long stopped hoping for a change. I've long accepted the truth. It wasn't easy. I can't even... But that's not important anymore. How I got here, how I've moved on, how I got over it...it doesn't matter. One day I woke up, and the pain is gone. The hurting just stopped. So did my waiting. So did my hoping. I've moved on. I've reduced you into nothing but a blur. I built a wall between you and my today; you're not allowed to go past it. You can't, in any way, come near my present. Because I've moved on. So, stop asking how I'm doing. You don't deserve to know. See also: Keep Walking
Music Music: Over You (Daughtry) 1:08 PM One of the most kick ass songs I've heard so far, is Over You by artist Daughtry. Over You (Daughtry) Now that it's all said and done, I can't believe you were the one To build me up and tear me down, Like an old abandoned house. What you said when you left Just left me cold and out of breath. I fell too far, was in way too deep. Guess I let you get the best of me. Well, I never saw it coming. I should've started running A long, long time ago. And I never thought I'd doubt you, I'm better off without you More than you, more than you know. I'm slowly getting closure. I guess it's really over. I'm finally getting better. And now I'm picking up the pieces. I'm spending all of these years Putting my heart back together. 'Cause the day I thought I'd never get through, I got over you. You took a hammer to these walls, Dragged the memories down the hall, Packed your bags and walked away. There was nothing I could say. And when you slammed the front door shut, A lot of others opened up, So did my eyes so I could see That you never were the best for me. Well, I never saw it coming. I should've started running A long, long time ago. And I never thought I'd doubt you, I'm better off without you More than you, more than you know. I'm slowly getting closure. I guess it's really over. I'm finally getting better. And now I'm picking up the pieces. I'm spending all of these years Putting my heart back together. 'Cause the day I thought I'd never get through, I got over you. Well, I never saw it coming. I should've started running A long, long time ago. And I never thought I'd doubt you, I'm better off without you More than you, more than you know. Well, I never saw it coming. I should've started running A long, long time ago. And I never thought I'd doubt you, I'm better off without you More than you, more than you know. I'm slowly getting closure. I guess it's really over. I'm finally getting better. And now I'm picking up the pieces. I'm spending all of these years Putting my heart back together. Well I'm putting my heart back together, 'Cause I got over you. Well I got over you. I got over you. 'Cause the day I thought I'd never get through, I got over you.
Music Music: Maybe (Ingrid Michaelson) 4:54 PM Ingrid Michaelson's voice is very homey. It's so relaxing it can calm me down even when it's all loud and riotous around me. Here's what I've been repeatedly playing lately. Maybe Ingrid Michaelson I don't wanna be the one to say goodbye But I will, I will, I will I don't wanna sit on the pavement while you fly But I will, I will, oh yes I will 'Cause maybe in the future, you're gonna come back You're gonna come back around Maybe in the future you're gonna come back You're gonna come back Oh, the only way to really know is to really let it go Maybe you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back You're gonna come back to me I don't wanna be the first to let it go But I know, I know, I know If you have the last hands that I want to hold Then I know I've got to let them go 'Cause maybe in the future you're gonna come back You're gonna come back around Maybe in the future you're gonna come back You're gonna come back Oh, the only way to really know is to really let it go Maybe you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back You're gonna come back I still feel you on the right side of the bed And I still feel you in the blankets pulled over my head But I'm gonna wash away, oh I'm gonna wash away Everything till you come home to me Maybe in the future you're gonna come back You're gonna come back In the future you're gonna come back You're gonna come back Maybe in the future you're gonna come back You're gonna come back around Maybe in the future you're gonna come back You're gonna come back Oh, the only way to really know is to really let it go Maybe in the future you're gonna come back You're gonna come back around Maybe in the future you're gonna come back You're gonna come back Oh, the only way to really know is to really let it go Maybe you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back You're gonna come back to me, you're gonna come back to me You're gonna come back to me Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Quotes What Is Life Without A Little Risk? 4:02 PM What Is Life Without A Little Risk? -Sirius Black, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Photo: Google images Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Listicle 8 Feel-Good Movies to Binge-Watch 11:22 AM Any weekend plans? How about binge-watching some feel-good movies? God knows we need some sanguine flicks to help us get through where we are right now. Here are my favorite feel-good movies in no particular order.8 Feel-Good Movies to Binge-Watch 1. Flipped An adaptation of the Flipped novel by Wendelin Van Draanen. These middle school kids in the early 60's will prove to you that even at such an early age, love can happen. Flipped is more than just conquering the awkwardness of growing up. It shows how girls think differently than boys. As with Juli, it shows how girls are not all hair and no substance. This coming of age movie is also about families and the different views of people who live different lives. Some of us lives in a fancy house, but all rotten and broken inside (like Mr. Loski) while others live simply yet are genuinely happy and have hearts of gold (like Juli's family). Why I like itJuli Baker. Her family's love and values, her brilliant perspective, and her strong character. She maybe young, but unlike girls her age, she's got substance. As Bryce's grandfather described her, she's "a girl with an iron backbone" and is "iridescent". She's got no time for shallow things and people. I also like the way Bryce finally caught up with her, saw what a gem Juli is, and did everything he could to make it up to her. Click image for details 2. About TimeAbout an awkward 21-year-old guy who discovered that he can travel in time. He used this "gift" to find his one true love. As he travels back in time, he learned that what he does today affects everyone else's future. And that there are things we take for granted that we can never get back. Time is the most valuable asset we possess and the best gift we can offer. Why I like itI like Rachel McAdams. There was never a boring scene in the movie. I like Tim's character. All the sacrifices he did for Mary---even sacrificing their first date for his obnoxious friend, and the way he loves and puts his family first. My favorite part, which is also the saddest in the movie was when he traveled back in time with his dad, back when he was a kid and they would spend quality time by the beach.Click image for details 3. Julie & Julia Two women from different generations, going through different things every day, but with the same passion and spirit. This movie is about Julia Child's journey to becoming the famous professional cook that she is today. And Julie Powell, a telephone operator and a food blogger turned author whose book was made into this movie...and how their lives were changed by finding their passion. Why I like it Meryl Streep and Amy Adams are a delight to watch. How Julie Powell's blog gained traffic is every blogger's dream. I've always been a frustrated cook, too. Julie and Julia are inspiring because they both didn't give up on what they want in life despite the dream stealers around them. I love their wonderful husbands! They're both extremely blessed to have such supportive partners. Click image for details 4. Serendipity Two good-looking strangers met, fell in love instantly, separated, hoped they'll meet again someday...and always believed they'll end up together. Finally, after years of not seeing each other, their paths crossed again. And they found what they felt was missing in their lives after their first meeting. Why I like it It's every hopeless romantic's kind of movie. Click image for details 5. 50 First Dates A romantic comedy film about Lucy, a girl with Goldfield Syndrome (a type of anterograde amnesia), and Henry, a guy working in Sea Life Park who loved her despite their challenging situation. He did everything to make Lucy love him even if it means introducing himself to her, and making her fall in love with him every day for the rest of their lives. Why I like it It draws a beautiful picture of how love should be - persevering, patient, and selfless. Love is not just lip service. Love is action. It's serving the other person every day. It's about being there in sickness and in health. Love makes you face the uncertain with a sense of security knowing that someone's got your back. Click image for details 6. Bruce Almighty A comedy about a regular guy with great life ambitions who met God. Bruce's arrogance turned into humility after he was given God's tasks and power. At first, he used it to his advantage. But eventually, he lost the one thing that's most important to him. Why I like it Jim Carrey is hands-down hilarious. What I like most is the way the movie demonstrates that God gives us everything we need, not what we want. It also shows how genuine His love for us is. Though He can do the impossible, He gave us the choice to whether accept His love or not.He never forces us to love, worship, or serve Him. This movie has shown me how beautiful the gift of free will is. Click image for details 7. The Lake House A remake of Korean film II Mare, The Lake House is a romantic drama about an architect living in the past and a doctor who lives two years ahead. They communicate by sending each other mails until they finally decided to meet. Why I like it The uniqueness of the plot is captivating. I just can't imagine holding on to something as strange and as beautiful as loving someone from a different time. It's not every day you encounter a love story as admirable as this. And of course...Keanu Reeves. Click image for details8. Just Like Heaven A fantasy love story about unfinished business. Elizabeth is a dedicated doctor whose life revolved around her work. David Abbott is a landscape architect who's mourning his wife's death. Both have emotional and personal issues. Both will discover what they need, what they're missing, and how to resolve their issues in an unexpected way. Why I like it Mark Ruffalo seems like the nice unassuming guy you can't help but adore. He's so winsome. The movie is about knowing that there are more important things in life than work or career. It also shows how we stop ourselves from experiencing beautiful things in life if we keep holding on to our past. Yet another movie that shows love as the most powerful force on earth. Click image for details Afterthought: Looking at this list made me realize what a sucker for love stories I am. 😅How about you? What's your favorite feel-good movie to binge-watch? Maybe you can add these to your list. This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks in advance!
