late post: i heart PARIS!

after a week of stay in Mauleon, we headed to Paris for the 2nd part of our France getaway. :)

May 11, 2012 Paris, France! finally! 

 my BFF & I excited to explore Paris! - Aerial view from the plane - waiting for our room assignment -  chillin' in our room - chilaxing bago gumala

   
first destination, Sacre Cour!

 @Sacre Cour - this church location is so high that you will see the beautiful scenery of Paris

along Montmartre district going to Moulen Rouge, we saw these shop and displays...sex thingy is so common in this area...

After some blocks away is the famous Moulin Rouge! 

then we headed to Notre Dame Cathedral...wasn't able to see the hunchback because the church is closed already. hehe

Dine at some fancy place...don't know this place :)

May 12, 2012 Eiffel Tower - Trocadero - Seine River Cruise - Paris at night!

 finally climbed up the Eiffel Tower after hours on the que! Crossed out from my bucketlist! Yey

 @Trocadero Garden

 our Seine River Cruise

Paris @ night! 

Equestrian Statues of King Louis XIV, Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, 

Arc De Triomphe, Champs-Élysées

May 13, 2013 we spent the wholeday in Disneyland then to Lido de Paris to watch their French cancan revue! A very hectic day! Wasn't able to watch the disney parade because we're running out of time for Lido especially that disneyland is way far from the city. 

childhood dream came true! 

Lido the Paris is the counter part of Moulin Rouge but it's located in Champs-Élysées. Cancan dancers are very goooood!!! So graceful, sexy and beautiful! at first i thought they are all gays haha

May 14, 2012 we stroll along Champ-Elysees - the most famous avenue in the world with 2 kms long. we also stopped by at the presidential palace (just outside). Streets are quite busy for the preps of the proclamation of newly elected President Hollande.

finally taste laduree macaroons! it cost me almost 100aed just for 8pcs of small macaroons! haha - infront of fouquet restaurant (this was featured in Midnight in Paris movie) - we entered a hotel at ngpapicture lang - view of Place de la Concorde monument - walking along champ elysee - infront of France presidential palace

In the evening of May 14, Alvin and I went back to Montmartre to buy some souvenirs and while going back to our hotel..there, i witnessed some couple of people drinking their liquor inside the train plus a bonus of snatching scene! super takot ko talaga at as in nanginginig buong kalamnan ko! haha

May 15, 2012 the memorable day! We visit Chateu de Versailles. The location is quite far from the city and we almost lost our way kc nakakalito ang pagsakay sa train. This particular day is so cold and before reaching Versailles there's a heavy rain with super konting snow. Me and alvin were laughing kc super dress ako tapos I was wearing 2 stockings kc sobrang lamig talaga! haha 

 different ceilings...magnificent!

statues - hall of mirror (they have lots of chandeliers inside this hall - 

painting of the king - bed of the princess (i wonder if how does it feel to lay in this bed)

and this are my Princess Sarah moments in the palace! :)

but while i'm enjoying my princess Sarah moments in Versailles back from our hotel someone was enjoying himself / herself rummaging our stuff! When we're back in our hotel, our stuff are not into places and found out that my money was stolen ! i've lost my Eur300 and aed100 to be exact. sorrow. :(

May 16, 2012 our last day! Last hurrah was in Louvre Museum. Paintings and sculptures are amazing! These collections are real gems of the world.

finally, the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci!

              the famous Monalisa - Portrait of La Belle Ferronniere - Saint Jean-Baptiste

May 17, 2012 back to base...dubey!

This experience is such an epic and one of the highlights of my existence talaga, coz I know that not everyone are given the chance to experience this. I was really greatful that God has given me that chance to see His wonders and the works of his talented people.

BTW, I realized that somehow this trip helps me to boost my self confidence, i don't know why but I've read it once that traveling would really help someone to boost the confidence and it really happens for me. :)

so 'til next trip again! Goal for next year ---> Italy! Help me to pray for this plan please! :)

late post: Mauleon and away

it's a super late post...

It’s more than a year when my BFF & I travelled to France to attend the wedding of our friend in Mauleon, France. After the wedding the couple arranged some side trips for their visitors and this includes Lourdes, San Sebastian – Spain, Biarritz & Paris.

This trip is my very first European vacation and my 30th birthday gift for myself. Never did I imagine that I will be going to places in one shot of a trip. 

May 4, 2012 our flight (Dubai - Paris - Pau) then we had our dispedida de soltera for ate Rida and dinner at our host place. 

May 5, 2012 the BIG day! Their wedding ceremony is really different compare to Filipino tradition. First, everyone will have to go to the Municipal Mayor's office to witness the couple signing their contract then will proceed to the Church for the wedding proper. After the wedding, everyone will go to the reception to have the best time of their life! Eating - singing - dancing - drinking til dawn! I can't imagine that we left the reception at 4am the following day and the other guests are still dancing! We we're like freezing zombies because of the super duper cold weather. 

May 6, 2012 we had our lunch in the same venue where the wedding reception took place...it's up in the mountain! very scenic and serene!

...we're able to roam around Mauleon town center after our lunch...this place is so refreshing! Go green!

May 7, 2012 we went to Lourdes and on our way we are welcomed with this alps! 

The Basilica of our Lady of the Rosary - Lourdes

after our visit from Lourdes, we headed to Les Grottes de Betharram which was discovered in 1810. 

May 8, 2012 San Sebastian, Spain! 

     Good Shepherd Cathedral                           La Concha Bay                      Basilica of St. Mary of the Chorus

then to Biarritz! It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers.

                                                                    St. Martin's Church

May 9, 2012 we visited a Jurancon winery! 

May 10, 2012 our last day! we went to house of Espadrilles and got a pair for myself and my niece!

and had our last dinner @ Mauleon. the guy in the lower right is our sponsor with his GF. :) the kiddos are the grooms nephew and niece while the other lolo is papa Pedro. :)

Thank you Mama Catherine, Papa Pedro & Manong sponsor (i forgot his name) for adopting us for 1 week. Sana e makabalik uli kami jan :)

Staying in Mauleon is my best vacation ever. Malinis, tahimik, madami food, fresh ang hangin at malamig! Thank you papa God for this experience and for seeing the other side of the world. 

Next post...our Paris trip!

My not so late RESOLUTIONS

Since I am already 30+ with some health issues, I have to be very careful and take really good care of my health. So even if it’s mid of the year already, I decided to make my resolutions to do some changes in my life style. My goal for doing this resolutions is to become MORE HEALTHY, because Azee's HEALTH equates to her LOVELIFE. hahaha

Oh yes! During my 31^st birthday, my primary wish is to become healthy because I know that the Big guy up there won’t send my God’s Gift if I don’t have a healthy body and mind!

For those who will read this entry, I ask you to pray for me so I will have the courage to do these resolutions faithfully and that the word "LAZINESS" will be defeated by my conviction to have a healthy lifestyle. 

1. EAT BREAKY

As they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day but I always tend to skip breakfast because I’m so lazy to wake up early. But since I have issues with my digestion, I have to have proper breakfast and lunch, then lessen my dinner intake instead.

Action: starting tomorrow, I’ll wake up at 6:30am and have my breakfast J

2. MOVE MY SMALL ASS

My very first cardiologist told me to do brisk walking regularly to normalize my blood pressure but I’m too lazy to go out whenever I enter to my room. I hate it when I’m sweating but I think I have to start loving it coz it will save me life.

I’ve read it long time ago that when we are sweating it releases toxins in our body and lower the stress level at ito ang kailangan ko!

Action: I’ll go for a walk atleast thrice a week or enroll for yoga class.

3. READ MY BOOKS

Long time ago, I love reading. I can read a novel in a week but after having 24 hour internet access from office and at home, I’ve got no time at all to browse my books. I’ve got addicted in to social networking, net surfing and reading different articles online instead of reading my books.

Action: Time to revive that habit that I’ve neglected for a long time, I’ll read my books. Atleast 1 book per month.

4. Give time for QUITE TIME. 

When I was still new here in Dubai, every night, I always have room to have my quite time. I can read my bible, listen to some worship song and pray. Then all of a sudden, I’ve got preoccupied with different things that block my time until I don’t have my quite time at all. :(

Action: To keep me sane from all the “noise” of this world, I’ll do this as non-negotiable task that must not be neglected everyday.

5. SLEEP EARLY

Never learned to do this but I really wanted to try. If some people could sleep early so am I.

Action: Time Management so I could finish what I needed to do then sleep early. My maximum is until 11pm.

True L-O-V-E

I was searching for Nicole Mullen's song "redeemer lives" when I saw this video. It was like 2 birds in one stone because this song is one of my "life booster", while the video really reminds me of our Father up there. I'm so grateful for HIS unconditional love, grace and mercy towards us.

It also reminds me of the unconditional love that my parents have continuously given to me and my siblings. 

Thank you papa God for planting the LOVE to our parents that they're able to do such sacrifices for us.

Warning: Grab some tissues before you watch this video :)

azee on TOP!

"God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good." (Genesis 1:31)

It’s because I am midget that I always wanted to climb on top! :)

1st climb: Skypark - Singapore (January 2012)

Booked a ticket with 5 hours layover just to go to this place :)

2nd climb: Eiffel Tower - Paris (May 2012)

Yey! it's a dream come true! Despite of the long line before we finally climb...it's so sulit to see the view all over Paris :)

3rd climb: Burj Khalifa - The Top - Dubai (April 2013)

I've finally climbed the tallest building in the world-world-world! Though you won't really go to the top of this building but you will climb up to the 124th floor in less than a minute. 

Thank you papa God for giving me the opportunity to see the vastness of your creation. Hoping for more sky crappers to climb-up in the future! :)