Much like the scene I shared with you last month, this image showcases the mountain range that I grew up seeing as a child. Baguio City is known as the 'Summer Capital'. It is located north of Manila, the capital of the Philippines and falls in the province of Benguet. The northern part of the Philippines is mostly known for its mountains and hills.
Now to the part where I don't sound like Wikipedia...
This image always reminds me of home. Over the years the lights on this mountain top have grown; in the daylight you can also see how these twinkling lights poorly showcase the tight squeeze of houses that flood this mountain range. I've loved seeing this mountain view fill-up with rooftops, but much like the Harbour Bridge gives me a 'wow' moment, this scenery gives me a more somber feeling.
Although the cost of living is not horrible in the Philippines, like most third world countries with solid tourism, it can be better. There's a part of me, whenever I'm standing on this balcony and looking at this view, that thinks, "What is 'better' here?" that is, what does 'doing better' for the people here look like? And this thought always makes me think about all the reason we immigrated in the first place.
Although I don't live here anymore, I always know that when I go back, a small part of it will always be home. When I was a teenager it was my Lola - my grandmother, now it seems to be the place itself. Regardless of how I dress or the odd accent that taints the Filipino language that comes out of my mouth, I will always look like a Filipino because I am a Filipino. I cannot and do not want to change that fact.
As much as I have always considered Sydney my home, I cannot ignore the fact that I'm an immigrant. This scene that I'm sharing with you is one that always takes my breath away. I first saw the famous and iconic Harbour Bridge when I was eight-years-old. It was the year 2000 - yes, the beginning of the new millennium - and my Uncles who had sponsored my family to come here wanted to show us this incredible architecture.
I can almost remember the first time I saw it, my reaction was, "Whoa!". To this day, I can't go into the city without gasping, even just a little, when I see the Bridge and/or the Opera House. You see, whenever I see it I always become that eight-year-old girl again. A girl who's been welcomed into a brand new world; knowing nothing about this country, yet willing to learn and be part of it.
Sydney is the home that I've known the longest, but it is the home that I came to know later, and now. Next month I'll show you my first home; the home that helps shape the way I view the world around me.
Japan is the first Asian country that I've been to that isn't the Philippines. This is a big deal because as a family, we generally just stay in the Philippines when we visit. After negotiating with our parents, my siblings and I decided thatt we wanted to add Japan to our family trip back to the Philippines.
Let me tell you, Japan did not fall short.
While we were there we mainly stayed and roamed around Tokyo. As I blog throughout the year, I'll share more places with you. The image above is a taster of what's to come.
All I wanted to share for this month's blog is how polite every single Japanese person was when we visited. Everyone was super nice and super respectful that I didn't want to be rude myself. When my family got sick momentarily on our trip and I had to play nurse, the lady at the chemist near us was so lovely and so accommodating that I felt like I was at home and was cared for even though I was using Google Translate to communicate.
As a whole, Tokyo is your typical city with its hustling and bustling. There buildings are chic and futuristic and their boutiques are to die for. One tip I do have is when you're in Japan you gotta slay your outfit game. Girl, jeans and a t-shirt or even a sensible coat is not enough in a high fashion city. Find a pretty, yet warm, coat for the winter or a more than pretty dress for the summer, 'cause these ladies and gents are oozing with style.
New York City. They say if you make it there you'll make it anywhere.
I know Frank Sinatra meant, "If you can be successful there you can be successful anywhere," but I'd like to suggest that if you get the chance to just see New York City, even just for a holiday, you can go anywhere. Little did Sinatra know that his classic ballad would ignite this little lady to sit twenty-two hours on a plane just to "make it" to NYC. Regardless...
New York truly is a concrete jungle. Full of historical buildings with incredible architecture, it's five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island) all tell their own incredible story. I have so many pictures from this city, but I find that its iconic buildings alone are enough to set nostalgia and the imagination alive.
Sinatra was right in sense that New York is a place that encourages dreams. From broadway to television; from Wall Street to fashion; from journalism to novels - it is a city full of opportunities. It's a world where culture is at the tip of your fingers and laughter is right around the corner. It truly is one of the best cities in the world.
Next time I post about New York, I'll share about the theatre. You can't go to New York and not go to the theatre!
For this birthday post I thought I'd start close to home.
These images are from a trip my family and I took to Melbourne in 2016. We caught the travel bug after our big USA trip (more about that trip later!) and we were inspired to travel around the country we call home.
The reason why I chose this city as my "blog-birthday post" is because my sister and I were celebrating our birthdays on this trip. We wanted to do something special and so we all agreed to head to Melbourne for the Easter long weekend that year to celebrate our birthdays.
Melbourne has been likened to New York City with its grid-like formation, love for the Arts and fashion-forward feels. In saying that, Melbourne is no NYC, but it has its own perks. "Getting lost" in Melbourne takes you down alleyways like this one or into the jungle of modern architecture that allows you to feel like you're in a futuristic world.
It is no secret that Melbourne has birthed many 'hipster' trends. Being in the city itself begs you to think outside the box. I enjoyed the cafes, rooftop bars and shopping experience here. It was a rich experience that I cannot wait to relive this July.
It has officially beenTHREE years since my last post!
It's a new year and I don't really have the time and space to let you guy know where I have been, but just so you know, I have been to the cinemas A LOT in the past three years. It's not getting to the cinema that I've had issues with, it's the sitting down and outlining my thoughts about each element that I really was not able to do.
Often in life, we're time poor and managing it seems to be a dream or theory that we laugh off when the pile of things "To Do" gets bigger and bigger. What I've had to learn over the last three years is learning to say "no" permanently or temporarily. This blog, was going to be a permanent 'no' and it would just exist for whoever was bored one day. Truthfully, it remained online for the times I was in my element: showing future writers how not to write. But as 2018 drew to a close, I realised that there are other things - other than films - that I did want to talk about, places I've been in and enjoyed.
Hence...
As of 2019, I'll be blogging about, not reviewing, places I've visited and traveled to over the last three years. It's a semi-explanation as well as a therapeutic way for me to appreciate the places I've been blessed to have visited.
I'm looking forward to the change and I look forward for whoever will read what I've got to say and share your own experiences with me.
I'll be starting with some of the images on my instagram page and then we'll see from there. I'll be posting once a month that way I can keep myself accountable and let you guys live your lives in 2019. Thank you for reading!
Superman changed the world the day he decided to rule our skies with his presence. It changed even more when Batman’s vigilante prowess earned him the keys to Gotham.
With these meta-humans floating around, we mere humans need our own guarantee that we’ll be safe if Batman and Superman decide that they’ve had enough of us “normals” and wanted to create their own version of normal.
Enter: Amanda Waller (Viola Davis).
In a new world full of glorified freaks, you need to fight fire with fire. Waller’s answer: Task Force X – a.k.a. the Suicide Squad.
The Story
The overarching plotline follows the Suicide Squad being approved for recruitment and then having to save the world from an accidental mole in their unit. The sub-plot follows the Joker (Jared Leto) searching for his devoted Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie).
The overall plot is pretty good, actually, it’s one of DC’s better films since their Superman reboot. David Ayer’s adaptation of John Ostrander’s comic was pretty close…well considering it’s an ever evolving series. Let’s face it, it’s nice to hear a bit more dialogue after Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice had Jesse Eisenberg talking the whole time while the two protagonist were stuck in a stare-off.
The sub-plot on the other hand, as much as it made sense, made the Joker more like Harley Quinn and less like the Joker that the comics present him to be. What I mean is, the Joker’s always been presented as a selfish, Batman-obsessed lunatic who was only using Harley to do his bidding. Although we do see a little of that side in the film, the sub-plot undermines the character development and portrayal of the Joker as he is seen as caring rather than ruthless.
The Cast
Viola Smith was as conniving as she was menacing. Her fearlessness was matched by her fierceness as she forced her point for the need to use villains to protect humans from the so-called ‘heroes’. In a film full of bad guys, she the worse guy that you’ll love to hate.
Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag was the perfect portrayal of a tortured soldier willing to do anything for ‘God and Country’. He was as endearing as he was fierce and, at times, he was pretty funny too!
Cara Delevingne proves that she not just a pretty face as she takes on a role that calls for duality. As Enchantress, she was purely evil as she fights for her freedom from the hands of Waller. As June Moon, she was relatable and had the audiences wanting the best for her and Flag throughout the whole film.
Will Smith must have asked to skew his character a little considering he was funnier than the comics portray Deadshot to be. Although, his comedic side was forgivable when Deadshot’s fatherly side is shown. We see the protective and distant mercenary whenever he’s with his daughter Zoe, played by Shailyn Pierre-Dixon.
Margot Robbie accurately portrayed the beloved Harley Quinn. Rocking the current HQ attire to all of her loveable antics, Robbie brought the psychotic-lovesick-clown to life. I will say her Harleen Quinzel was less believable, but then again, we didn’t see as much of her as we did Harley Quinn.
Jai Courtney’s Captain Boomerang was also pretty accurate, but with the changes with Deadshot, we don’t really see the competitive nature between these two characters that the animated films highlight. (Then again we see that more between Deadshot and Flag.) Regardless, Courtney’s Boomerang was dead-on and hilarious.
Jay Hernandez was my favourite. He was believable, relatable and, for the most part, heroic. I’d say he was more hero than villain considering his tortured past and his personal decision to give himself up to the authorities was the basis of his character evolution.
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s portrayal of Killer Croc was undermined by all the other big names and ‘beautiful’ people. I wish he played a bigger role throughout the film, but I am glad he received a more central part towards the end of the film.
Karen Fukuhara was great as Katana. Although, for a jam-packed film, I wasn’t sure if her character was used as much as she should have been. Sure she was Flag’s protector, but her character seemed as though she was forced into the story. But, hey, for her first film, she did really well!
Jared Leto’s Joker was over advertised for someone who was barely in this film. I don’t know what everyone was going on about and I don’t really know why Leto himself committed so much to character with so little screen time. Look, I get it could be for future Batman films, but seriously everyone needs to relax. In saying that, Leto did a great job in separating his Joker from his predecessors, so, congrats dude.
Overall… DC fans will love it regardless of what the critics say. Personally, I didn’t have high expectations and I was pretty surprised with how it all turned out. The opening was a little unnecessary and redundant, but it set the scene. As much as the Joker was oversold, I was glad to see that the Squad made their movie theirs.
